NonBasicSpecificComments03

• Title: Comments 3
• Date: 10/21/2003
• SWSI - Doc Type: Comments

Mr. Rick Brown and River Basin Roundtable Members
Statewide Water Supply Initiative

October 21, 2003
Page 2

Environmental and recreational water needs are directly related to water needs for M&I
purposes. As Colorado's population grows, the water needs for environmental and
recreational purposes will also grow~ This is particularly true for river basins on the west
slope, the Upper South Platte, the Upper Arkansas, the Rio Grande and other areas where
population growth and economic development are driven primarily by recreation and
tourism. With continuing growth and economic development, theft( will certainly be
increased potential for conflicts between M&I water demands and water needs for the
environment and recreation. An integrated plalll1ing approach that addresses all of these
needs will help to avoid and minimize the potential for conflict and the costs and risks
associated with enviropmental pennitting of water projects~ Addressing environmental
water needs early in the planning process is also an important component of the State's
strategy to preserve, protect, and enhance habitat for sensitive species, tlrreatened, and
endangered species and to prevent additional listings under the Endangered Species Act

In the context of SWSI, the quantification of environmental and recreational water needs
will be useful for addressing multiple study objectives including the Statewide and Basin
Inventories, Alternative Identification and Evaluation, and Development of
Implementation Strategies (Tasks 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). For example, detailed
information about instream flow water rights for fisheries and recreation (kayak courses,
etc.) will be needed to determine the amount of water supplies available for development
in each basin. It will also be necessary to'. identify the locations of important water
dependent environmental and recreational resources such as wetlands, and Gold Medal
Trout Streams in order to address issues and concerns associated with water development
options. Other aspects of major importance include the peak flows necessary for channel
maintenance, biological refugia and behavioral triggers. Urban landscape flow needs are
also significant, as exemplified by Denver's South Platte amenities, Pueblo's investments,
along the Arkansas River and Golden's Clear Cree~ improvements, all of which have
produced major benefits for visitors, residents and local economies.

Approach to Determining Environmental and Recreational Water-
Needs

It is important to recognize that planning approaches for meeting environmental and
recreational needs are not nearly as well developed as planning approaches for agriculture
and M&I~ Instream flows for environmental purposes have been considered a legal
beneficial use in Colorado for only the last 30 years. During this period, there have been
significant advances in the development of sophisticated approaches to quantification of
water needs for aquatic biota, but resources available for widespread application of these
methodologies have been limited. While considerable data have been developed by the
Colorado Division of Wildlife and others, additional work is needed to compile and
organize the data for water supply planning purposes~ SWSI provides an important
opportunity for much needed advancement of planning efforts to meet enviromnental and
recreational needs.

Trout UlIlilnited: Alnerica Js Leading CoIl/water Fisheries Conservation Organization
Colorado Office: 1320 Pearl StreetJ Suite 320, Boulder, CO 80302
PHONE: [phone] FAX; (303) 440..7933 EMAIL: [e-mail], [e-mail]