S2_11-15-04

• Basin: Statewide
• Title: SWSI Phase 1 Report - Section 2 Statewide Demographic, Economic, and Social Setting
• Date: 11/15/2004
• Author: CWCB
• SWSI - Doc Type: Final Report

Section 2
Statewide Demographic, Economic, and Social Setting
2.4 Statewide Environmental
Setting
A brief overview of the physical and environmental
features of the state that may affect or be affected by
water development and management activities is
presented in this section. Basins that contain
environmentally sensitive areas, critical habitat areas,
and species that would affect or be affected by water
management and development practices are identified
Additional information on these topics is provided on a
basin level in Section 3.
Colorado has three distinct physical regions - the Great
Plains in eastern Colorado, the Rocky Mountains in
Central and Northwestern Colorado, and the Colorado
Plateau in Southwestern Colorado. Flat and rolling plains
and tablelands characterize the Great Plains.
Short-grass and mixed-grass prairie is scattered with
trees and shrubs and occasional valleys, canyons, or
mountains break the extensive view. The South Platte
River flows through the northern portion of the region
while the Arkansas River flows through the southern
region. To the west, the Rocky Mountains rise as high as
14,000 feet and have pronounced vegetational zonation.
The various zones, including alpine tundra, montane
forest, and dry, rocky slopes of the foothills, support a
variety of plants and animals. The rugged Colorado
Plateau consists of tablelands and mountains reaching
as high as 12,600 feet. The Colorado River cuts across
the north, adding even greater diversity to the
grasslands, woodlands, and mountains of the Plateau
(USGS 1998).
The State of Colorado has nearly 4 million acres of
designated wilderness in its more than 14 million acres of
national forest land (Colorado Foundation for Water
Education 2004), and includes pristine areas in both
mountain and plains environments. Environmentally
sensitive areas are present in national or state parks and
monuments, wilderness areas, national and state forests,
and other sensitive federal and state land uses. A
combination of these areas exists throughout each basin.
^ State species of special concern (not a statutory
category)
Various federal and/or state listed fish species are
present in the Arkansas, Colorado, Dolores/San Juan/
San Miguel, Gunnison, Rio Grande, South Platte, and
Yampa/White/Green Basins. There are no federal and/or
state listed fish species found in the North Platte Basin.
Other threatened, endangered, or state species of
concern are also listed in each of the eight river basins.
See Section 3 for more detail.
2.5 Institutional and Regulatory
Setting
Water projects developed in Colorado will normally have
to comply with three significant federal laws: Federal
CWA, NEPA, and ESA. In the process of compliance
with these laws, other federal laws may come into play.
This section describes, in general terms, the federal and
local permitting process for water projects. In addition to
these, major federal regulatory special use permits may
be required if a project is located on federal land. There
are also local permits such as the 1041 permitting
process which many apply. Colorado Water Law,
including discussion on Colorado Water Rights,
Interstate Compacts, Equitable Apportionment Decrees,
Memoranda of Understanding, and specific tools within
the current legal framework of the Priority System that
can be used to address various water supply needs, are
discussed in Section 4.
2.5.1 Federal Clean Water Act
Two sections of the CWA normally apply to water project
development. Section 404 regulates the discharge of
dredged and fill materials into the waters of the United
States, including wetlands. A permit from USACE is
needed to conduct these activities. Section 401 requires
that any applicant for a federal permit will obtain a
certificate that any such discharge will comply with state
regulations, including water quality standards and other
element regulations.
2.5.1.1 Section 404
Sensitive habitats identified include those of:
^ Federally-listed endangered species
^ State-listed threatened and endangered species
~
$~ole'ri~ice Wo~e' $upplY Initia~ive
Section 404 of the federal CWA regulates the discharge
of fill material into waters of the United States, including
wetlands. Activities in waters of the United States that
are regulated include water resource projects such as
dams, diversions, and levees.
~~
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