ColoradoComments21

• Basin: Colorado
• Title: Comments 21
• Date: 12/12/2003
• SWSI - Doc Type: Comments

Comments to SWSI:
Recreation Demand Studies, Comments on Objectives, and General
Submitted by: Kristine Crandall, Roaring Fork Conservancy
December 12,2003

Recreational Demands

o A report that is useful for understanding the use, flows, and economic benefits of
the Breckenridge and Vail Recreational In-Channel Diversions (RICD) has been
mailed to you. It is entitled "The Beneficial Value of Waters Diverted in the Blue
River for the Breckenridge Whitewater Park and in Gore Creek for the Vail
Whitewater Park," prepared by Stratus Consulting in 2002+ This information
documents the economic importance of water instream for recreational purposes
in the Colorado Basin and throughout the state. It is pertinent to the SWSI
process, especially as additional Colorado Basin communities are contemplating
future RICD applications, including Basalt, Carbondale~ Glenwood Springs,
Minturn, and Eagle.

Objectives nod Subobjectives

(J Regarding the overview of comments from our first Colorado Basin Roundtable
Meeting:
o Under Original Objective 2. HEfficiency of use may not increase
availability" - I recall a number of points being made on the topic of
maximizing water use, and think this comment referred specifically to
changes in water distribution that may result from less water being used
for agriculture. In other wordst I think this was a reference to a specific
situation, and isn't generally reflective of the objective.
o Under Original Objective 6: During our meeting, the importance of
protecting wetlands and floodplain functions was brought up - which
sh~u]d be included under this objective, along with protecting and
restoring native riparian habitat
o Regarding the overall Objectives and Subobjectives
o Under Objective 1: "Sustainably Meet Municipal & Industrial and
Agricultural Demandst' - M & I and Agriculture should be broken out into
two separate objectives, since each is a distinct type of water demand/use.
e Under Objective 3: "Provide adequate water for recreation when and
where needed" ..... This is ambiguousp Alternative wording might be:
"Provide water to support recreational activities throughout the basin"
o Under Objective 4: "Leave adequate water for environment when and
where needed" -- This is also ambiguous~ I would recommend a statement
that more strongly reflects the importance of environmental values, such
as: "Provide water to protect and enhance environmental needs throughout
the basin"