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Section 4 <br />Delineating and Prioritizing Colorado's Environmental and Recreational Resources and Needs <br />Recreation <br />The recreation GIS coverages consist of Gold Medal <br />Stream and Lakes from CDOW (Figures 4-25 and <br />4-26), rafting reaches from American Whitewater <br />(Figure 4-27), and kayaking reaches from Southwest <br />Paddler (Figure 4-28). The American Whitewater <br />and Southwest Paddler information was derived <br />from the following websites: <br />htrtp://www.americanwhitewater.org/ and <br />htrtp://www.southwestpaddler.com/. <br />The Mountain Buzz website <br />(http://www.mountainbuzz.com/) was also <br />researched and provides good recreational <br />information. The Southwest Paddler site had more <br />information on flow considerations and was <br />therefore selected for inclusion and reference. <br />It is unclear how the Southwest Paddler, the American <br />Whitewater, and Mountain Buzz websites determine <br />what flows are appropriate for different identified <br />recreational experiences. Additional work is necessary <br />to provide objective flows for different recreational <br />experiences on different waterways. <br />Flow information was not available for all reaches. <br />The available flow information can be accessed within <br />the GIS ArcReader tool by using the information <br />toolbar and selecting the reach of interest. <br />Combining the recreation coverages with the <br />various CW CB and environment coverages provides <br />decisionmakers with important information that <br />may help themidentify priority resource <br />management areas. <br />4.3.3 Prioritization Process and <br />Interface with Instream Flow <br />Program <br />During the TRT process, there was general <br />discussion on approaches for prioritization and <br />quantification of environmental and recreational <br />flows. This was largely discussed during the interim <br />meeting that was held in March 2006 and at the last <br />TRT meeting. The TRT did not come to resolution <br />on a process; however, it recognized that <br />prioritization is a local process that would require <br />input from the basin roundtables and other <br />stakeholders. Potential processes for prioritization <br />could be based technically, on threats, on biological <br />integrity, or on political, social, or economic factors. <br />This section summarizes technical elements that <br />could be utilized in a prioritization process as well <br />as techniques for quantifying environmental and <br />recreational flows. Additionally, CWCB's Instream <br />Flow Water Rights and stream protection efforts are <br />summarized in this section. <br />Approaches for Prioritization and <br />Quantifying Environmental and <br />Recreational Flows <br />As part of the TRT process, the tools and concepts <br />that could be used for establishing priorities and <br />estimating environmental flow needs were <br />discussed. These tools and concepts are summarized <br />in Table 4-2. As part of each basin roundtable's <br />nonconsumptive needs assessments, these tools and <br />concepts may be relied upon in developing priorities <br />and quantification of needs. <br />1 Permanent basin roundtables were formed at the <br />end of the first phase of SWSI. For more information <br />on the Basin Roundtables, visit www.ibccstate.co.us. <br />4-10 FINAL DRAFT <br />