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Lower San Miguel yVa~er Resource Planning Study Page 9 A public meeting was also held in Naturita on May 29, 2008, which drew approximately seventy people. The meeting was widely publicized and covered two major topics. First, CWCB staff briefed the public on recommendations for new instream flow water rights on the lower San Miguel River and Tabeguache Creek that were being considered. Secondly, Harris Water Engineering, Inc. disseminated information relative to the Uravan Water Rights, the study process, and the Uravan Water Trust. Summaries of some of the entities' concerns and suggested alternatives for water use follow. Otherwise, notes from the various meetings identified above are included in Appendix Seven. Letters from interested parties are included in Appendix Six. VLA Montrose County Umetco and Montrose County have held negotiations concerning a land transfer of a part of the Umetco lands to Montrose County. Montrose County is to receive various portions of the historical Uravan town site. Montrose County is interested in using these transferred lands to benefit the local communities and has conducted planning activities with the Rimrocker Historical Society in the development of a mining interpretive center, rustic tent camping and baseball fields for a portion of the transferred lands. It is anticipated that the Tabegauche Wells or the Uravan Well No. 2 could provide water to this park development. Montrose County is also currently conducting a study of energy development impacts on the west end of the county. The impact study is expected to find significant possible impacts on roads, law enforcement, human resources and water supply by the expected population growth associated with energy development. The County is concerned about the basins' ability to meet future water needs if all existing decreed water rights are fully utilized. This coupled with the hydrology of the San Miguel River, may make it difficult to supply the future demand. The impact study is not complete at this time, but Montrose County has responded to this study showing the County's concern for the ultimate distribution and use of the Uravan Water Rights. The County strongly urges the SWCD and CWCB consider future population water demands in this study and development of alternatives for the Uravan Water Rights. The County also urges the SWCD and CWCB to conduct further research and investigation into the possibility of new reservoir sites. While this is a valid suggestion for future study, it was beyond the scope of this study. Please see the attached correspondence from Montrose County, in Appendix Six, for a thorough description of its comments and recommendations. VI.B Mustang Water Authority The Mustang Water Authority (Authority) was created in 2004, after a three year feasibility study ordered by the Towns of Naturita and Nucla and conducted by Buckhorn Geotech. The Authority was formed with funding by the Division of Local Government (DOLA), the Colorado Water and Power Development Authority (CWRPDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Naturita, and Nucla. The Towns formed the Authority to treat and distribute potable water to both towns and reduce the redundancy of operating two separate systems. The Towns retained control of the respective distribution systems and the Authority provides bulk, treated water to the two Towns and their districts. The Authority operates a 50 million gallon (153 AF) reservoir and provides 300,000 gallons (0.92 AF) treated water storage. ~Iuly 2008