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Show located to serve the more populated sections of the basin. With some development of recreational facilities and fishing, they should be popular with the local people and those traveling through the region. The other reservoir sites are situated in sparsely populated areas and would have little effect on the recreational resources of the basin. Uinta Basin.- The two potential dam and reservoir projects, Echo Park and Split Mountain, will effect Dinosaur National Monument. These projects are discussed in Chapter IX. The many good lakes and streams in the Uinta Mountains lessen the need for water recreational areas in the adjoining Duchesne and Ashley Valleys. However, the proposed Pelican Lake, Starvation, Stanaker and Red Creek Reservoirs should have some local recreational value. Crow Creek, in a remote location, would probably receive little use. The Hades site is on one of the main approach roads to the High Uintas Primitive Area. The proposed reservoir development would not compensate for the loss of the present recreational assets. The enlargement of Strawberry Reservoir is not likely to increase its present recreational values unless the percentage of drawdown on the enlarged reservoir is less than that of the present one. Price and San Rafael River Basins.- This section lacks natural water areas suitable for recreational use. Hence, all of the sites, except perhaps the Buckhorn which is in desert country and would be subject to complete drawdown, should be planned for recreational use by the residents of the nearby irrigated districts. The Mammoth and Joes Valley sites in the Manti National Forest at fairly high elevations appear to offer the best possibilities. The two large potentialities in this subdivision are the Desolation and Rattlesnake Dams located in the remote and almost inaccessible canyons of the Green River. The reservoirs formed by the two dams would extend from a few miles north of Green River, Utah, almost to Ouray, Utah. The main access of the reservoirs would be from these two towns. Although the reservoir areas have only been investigated from the air, it is doubtful that the scenic or recreational values, either existing or potential, will be found important. Present information indicates that scenically this section does not compare with sections along the Green above Jensen, Utah, and below Green River, Utah. Some archeological sites of importance have been found in side canyons, indicating that an archeological survey of the reservoir areas should be made well in advance of the completion of these projects. GRAND DIVISION Of all portions of the Colorado River Basin, the Grand and San Juan divisions have the best natural water areas and the least need for artificial lakes. However, with the great number of tourists attracted to the region, additional water bodies that do not interfere with or eliminate existing recreational resources should be of considerable benefit. The McPhee and Dewey Reservoir sites are well located to provide new recreation areas. A number of other sites might provide opportunities for local use such as Castle Creek, Gurley, Rabbit Ears, East Troublesome, Barbers Basin, Fourmile No. 4, Rifle Gap, Tomichi, McDonough, Grand View, Finch, Cottonwood, Miramonte, Buckeye, Mill Creek, Coyote, East Canyon, Owens Creek, Vega, Castle, and Gor- such. The last four sites, however, will have to compete with the lakes and reservoirs on top of Grand Mesa for attendance and use. The Dewey Reservoir site is on the Colorado River, in eastern Utah and western Colorado and about midway between the north and south boundaries of the two States. By far the greater part of the reservoir site, which is more than 40 miles in length, lies in Utah. Only a small portion of it extends into Colorado. The tentative dam site is about 30 miles upstream from Moab, Utah, at the upstream end of the spectacular Red Canyon of the Colorado River that lies between the dam site and United States Highway 160 near Moab. The purpose of the proposed project is the development of hydroelectric power. Preliminary studies by the Bureau of Reclamation indicate a water surface of about 66,000 acres at full reservoir and about 21,000 acres at dead storage. Maximum drawdown, which normally would occur during the winter months, would be about 106 feet. Lands involved include State school lands, privately owned lands, and public domain. The greater part of the area is semi- desert grazing land having little scenic or recreational value. However, 114 |