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Show development is presently being established. The existing unattractive fishing villages and the inadequate recreational and waste disposal facilities would be dismantled and removed. New summer homes are presently being constructed near the reservoir and would not require relocation. They are of a high quality and are screened by trees. The grazing of livestock along the water's edge would be terminated within designated recreation areas. The shoreline will be nearer to stands of conifers and aspen thus improving visual composition and attractiveness. The road which presently skirts the west side of the reservoir would be relocated in some reaches, including 4.3 miles of bituminous surface road, and 6.2 miles of gravel road. Material for the road would come from the road right- of- way and a borrow area located at the north end of the reservoir. Stream habitat losses above Soldier Creek Dam will not be significant. Only about 1.5 miles of this 7- mile reach, locally known as Stinking Springs, is considered to be a good stream fishery ( Class III). The most significant stream environmental losses will occur below the dam because natural flows are being substantially reduced. Thriving, naturally reproducing populations of brown, rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout as well as mountain whitefish, are expected to be reduced in number. Populations of non- game species will suffer corresponding losses. The 30- mile section of river downstream to Starvation Reservoir contains a unique 20- mile portion which has been classified as a " Quality Fishing" area ( explained further in Section B7b). Reduced flows will largely eliminate the quality characteristics of this fishery and lower its classification. All of the river below Soldier Creek Dam is rated as Class II or IV. Post- Unit Stream flows and effected impacts are discussed in more detail later in paragraph C4c. The reduced stream flows will also result in losses of beaver and waterfowl habitat along the river as well as habitat losses for many non- game animals and birds. Natural streamside vegetation will also change. Aquatic invertebrate and algal populations will be altered adjusting to the new streamflow regime. Because of reduced water velocity and possible temperature increases due to reduced discharge, the rate of production of these organisms may increase. The recreational value of the existing Strawberry Reservoir has been described in Section B9b. The reservoir plays an 229 |
