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. . . . RECEIVED DEe 222006 tlolOilldo Wattr COIlsel':allon ~ December 19,2006 Mr. Dan Merriman Stream and Lake Protection Program Colorado Water Conservation Board 1331 Sherman S1. Rm 721 Denver, Co. 80203 Dear Mr. Merriman: As a water right holder, the Michigan River Water Conservancy District is strenuously objecting to in stream flow appropriations for Jackson County Colorado. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of North Park. In stream flow rights would injwious to existing water rights. In addition they would prohibit development of water rights in the future under the North Platte River Compact. The property rights of private landowners do not need any more government regulation. The ranchers of North Park have been very good stewards of land and water and have kept the fishing habitat intact or the existing fish population would not exist as they currently do. It appears the factual basis for these appropriations does not exist. They need to be measured on the reaches requested to get factual numbers instead of guess work. by the government employees. Also the question needs to be asked about the accessibility to the requested reaches by the general public. Finally, this type of actio~ does not promote conservation or realistic water utilization Why should these rights be granted when there is not enough water to serve the existing rights. It would appear that the Bureau of Land Management request is an end run on the people of Jackson County. Notice of this action was not given to the citizens of North Park whom it affects the most. In conclusio~ we are asking the State of Colorado to deny the requested in stream. flow rights on sections of the North Fork of the Platte River, the South Fork of Big Creek, and Indian Creek, There has been no demonstrated need for granting the appropriations. Sinc~ely , / .; ..-'7 1 ...,/ //~/Z. ~~/~~ ,ta / . 'r!' /". .//James Baller, Secretary Michigan River Water Conservancy District