Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Gilbert. Hanna <br /> <br />-_.-~---.-.._- ----. <br /> <br />From: on behalf of SWSI (Statewide Water Supply Initiative) <br />Subject: FW: Input for Arkansas basin - environmental alternatives <br /> <br />From: Greg.Gerlich@state.co.us [mailto:Greg.Gerlich@state.co.us] <br />Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 8:32 AM <br />To: SWSI (Statewide Water Supply Initiative) <br />Cc: Sherman. Hebein@state.co.us; Jay .Skin ner@state.co.us; David .Graf@state.co.us; John.T onko@state.co.us; <br />Eric.H ughes@state.co. us; Tom. Nesler@state.co.us; Doug. Krieger@state.co.us <br />Subject: RE: Input for Arkansas basin - environmental alternatives <br /> <br />-~----.----~------_.---~-----------~- <br /> <br />Hello Rick and CDM staff, <br /> <br />My cohort for the Arkansas Basin has done a fine jOb as usual in pointing out various concerns related to the <br />SWSI process, and I have to agree that environmental and recreational issues seemed to be more of an after <br /> <br />thought, even though I only came in to this process at the 4th meeting. Doug's comments regarding the Arkansas <br />Darter could just as easily be applied to the Plains Minnow, Brassy Minnow, Suckermouth Minnow, etc. (State <br />listed Endagered) species in the S. Platte River Basin. <br /> <br />Since I had to leave to go sample the fish community at Cherry Creek for Bighead carp at about the time you <br />were getting into the environmental/recreational discussions at SWSI meeting # 4 , I wanted to add an item for <br />thought. When considering environmental mitigation related to water projects a common misconception is that by <br />bUilding a new hatchery all the fishery concerns are satisfied. This idea has worked pretty well in the past in <br />some places (i.e. Pueblo hatchery below Pueblo Reservoir) and not so well in others (i.e. Chatfield Hatchery <br />- below Chatfield Reservoir). The primary difficulty for the CDOW is that once a new hatchery is built, we have to <br />find the funding to operate and staff the facility. Realistically, I think a better option in the future, would be to <br />enhance our existing hatchery facilities by securing water supplies, acquiring additional water rights, upgrading <br />isolation units, lining ponds, upgrading raceways, etc. There is a lot that could be done with money from any new <br />projects to help meet the needs of stocking/maintaining associated sportfishery options. <br /> <br />Secondly, a concern came up about our DOW's option regarding Control of Non-native Phreatophytes, that native <br />ones need to be controlled in some areas too. I believe that was the guy from Greeley who brought up this issue. <br />I suggest noting in the report that non-native phreatophytes such as Tamarisk exhibit allelopathy (the suppression <br />of growth of one plant species by another due to the release of toxic substances) which makes their control and <br />subsequent revegetative efforts more problematic. I believe control of the non-native species would definitely <br />take precedence over any native plant species control regarding water projects. <br /> <br />Thanks for the opportunity to comment, Greg. <br /> <br />Senior Aquatic Biologist <br /> <br />NE Aquatic Section <br /> <br />6060 Broadway <br /> <br />Denver, CO 80216 <br /> <br />303-291-7368 <br /> <br />greg.gerlich@state.co.us <br /> <br />9/1612004 <br />