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O'O'l'S'. , , I' .... ~ - ...- Public Scoping Comments, Gunnison River Contract, cont. ~7;r~::: Colorado Ute and others have long been concerned about being able to use their Gunnison River water rights. 22. CAMPBELL; p2,14. Few will dispute that the Gunnison Basin has long been in turmoil over water rights. The Upper Gunnison Water Conservation District, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the Tri-County Water District, the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users, the City of Delta, Colorado Ute and others have long been concerned about being able to use their Gunnison River water rights. 7b. 'CAMPBELL; p2, 15. In fact, few. if any,' really understand or know precisely which water rights holders are truly entitled to the waters of the Gunnison River. This has created a situation where existing water rights holders may be competing with one another for water. Very junior water rights holders like the City of Delta and Colorado Ute may be left out entirely. 13b. CAMPBELL; p2,15. IIi fact, few, if any, really understand or know precisely which water rights holders are truly entitled to the waters of the Gunnison River. This has created a situation where existing water rights holders may be competing with one another for water. Very junior water rights holders like the City of Delta and Colorado Ute may be left out entirely. 3b. CAMPBELL; p2,16. Fortunately, the existing Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument had a pre-existing federal reserve water right that is the second most senior water right holder in the river. lIDs makes it imperative to formulate a plan to protect the canyon's resources. .-i,~' ." .~X:~:1:::~:\; 22. CAMPBELL; p2,17. In the ';'eantime, while the process is proceeding (of the Monument formulating a plan to protect its resources) I hope to be able to codify the Bureau's procedures in legislation I introduced in August 1990, to redesignate the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Monumeot as a national park and designate tbe Gunnison River as Wild and Scenic. , I also intend to, be actively involved in these negotiations to ensure that the Gunnison River is protected. 19d., CAMPBELL; p2,18. Drafting this language (for Black Canyon Conservation Act legislation) and seeing it enacted will be no easy task because there are significant obstacles to satisfying the demands of water users both upstream and downstream from Blue Mesa Reservoir. But my bill is very much alive and is the most immediate vehicle that is available to help achieve the goals I have discussed. 22. CAMPBELL; p2.18. Drafting this langUage (for Black Canyon Conservation Act legislation) and seeing it enacted will be no easy task because there are significant obstacles to satisfying the demands of water users both upstream and downstream from Blue Mesa Reservoir. But my bill is very much alive and is the most immediate vehicle that is available to help achieve the goals I have discussed. 22. CAMPBELL; p3,1J. Fortunately, Western slope communities have demonstrated an admirable amount of cohesion around common lssues. 19d. CAMPBELL; p3,12. If I am successful, by the end of the 102nd Congress, my colleagues will have helped me pass legislation to redesignate the Black Canyon of the Gunnison as a national park, create a new national conservation area, protect the Gunnison River from water export raids, fund recreational improvements at all our Bureau of Reclamation water projects and designate the Curecanti Unit of the Aspinall project as a national recreation area, 34