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<br />",.:' <br /> <br />natural streams and lakes as may be required to preserve <br />the natural environment to a reasonable degree. <br /> <br />b. Nonprofit organizations may be interested in purchasing <br />key water and property rights for protection purposes. <br />The Nature Conservancy is actively pursuing purchase of <br />senior rights on the Yampa for this purpose. <br /> <br />c. The Division of Wildlife can purchase water rights and <br />transfer them to alternate points of diversion although <br />funding has never been available to make this possible. <br />The rights function by virtue of the transfer, which <br />results in water left in the stream ,between the old and <br />new points of diversion. This action requires court <br />application for a change of water right. <br /> <br />d. Federal commitment will also be required, either by <br />designating water in existing reservoirs for that purpose <br />or byactua) p,urchase of water rights at federal expense. <br /> <br />5. When- A formal research plan and schedule, including the <br />elements discussed previously, should be drawn up and actively <br />pursued to define flow needs of the species. <br /> <br />In the interim, instream flows could be secured where existing <br />knowledge indicates they are necessary to minimize short-term <br />impacts to Colorado squawfish and humpback chub habitat. <br /> <br />H. Groundwater Development to Supplement Flows <br /> <br />1. Effectiveness - Extensive groundwater underlies the Piceance <br />Basin in western Colorado. This water provides a resource <br />available for tapping to enhance flows during periods critical <br />to endangered fish. <br /> <br />Many scenarios may be developed utilizing this resource,either <br />by pumping water directly into surface streams or adding water <br />to the Grand Valley Ditch in exchange for flows in more crucial <br />locations. <br /> <br />2. Water impacts - Colorado law specifically gives the surface <br />owner the exclusive right to develop groundwater. The large <br />aquifer beneath Federal land holdings in the basin could be <br />tapped to supply required flows. <br /> <br />3. Where - Flows could potentially be augmented in the White or <br />Colorado Rivers. <br /> <br />4. Who - The USFWS should conduct a feasibility study to examine <br />the potential for using groundwater to augment critical flows <br />for endangered fish. The study could be completed over the next <br />year, if funding were made available, and results used to <br />develop a plan for groundwater as a component of recovery. <br /> <br />- 12 - <br />