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<br />Sound use or Federal authorities can ce an <br />important tool for restoring flows to dry streams. <br />/1..doption - and enforcement - of adequate <br />standards in a federal hydropower license could <br />bring long-ov2r:ue streamflow protection to the <br />South Arkansas River. Diversions for <br />agricultural irrigation and hydroelectric <br />power have adversely affected the South <br />,~rkansas for over 100 years, leaving <br />numerous stretches cif the river dry. By <br />1900, over 95 "vater right claims were <br />staked on this short, 16-mile stretch of <br />river that begins on the Continental <br />Divide and flows into the historic mining <br />town of Salida, where it merges with the <br />main stem of the Arkansas. <br /> <br />..-' <br />I <br />i <br />i <br /> <br />South Arkansas River <br /> <br />," <br /> <br />t:ii":-:"=_;4;_,;i'2 s~re::--. 32:-:2r ent::,:.~r:lenc and <br /> <br />s~~.~:~-;.~r :icensit'>; "equirerTl!::rlts by {he ;:EKC <br />-.,"-. -'-,- ='"'1'05- ~-(''-IC"o cOl,',_i ~l.:>lp restor::> <br />C I I ''-i '-: i ~ I ....,; "- ~ _ -=. I '- . I _, I .... '-, <br /> <br />bot;-, streams. <br /> <br /> <br />A 1993 Forest Service report found <br />tn2.t flows in the South Arkansas River <br />could not "provide healthy, self-perpet- <br />uating plant communities, meet water <br />quality standards, [and] provide for viable <br />populations of wildlife and fish." The <br />report outlined instream flow recommen- <br />dations for the hydroelectric plant to <br />improve the aquatic ecosystems of the <br />river. These recommendations were <br />adopted into the plant's license by the <br />Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) in <br />1997, but will be phased in slowly, in a <br />series offour stages over the next 20 <br />years. Even 'Norse, because of opposition <br />from the power plant operators, the <br />phase-in may be stopped long before <br />the stream reaches recommended flows. <br />So far, the first phase flows have had <br />only limited benefits. Although a bare <br />minimum flow has been restored,in <br />two locations that were once virtually <br />dry, flow conditions on the South Arkansas <br />remain far below National Forest standards and <br />Foos2s Creek, a key tributary, remains essentially <br />dry frorn August through May over a nearly <br /> <br />~l <br />/' " <br /> <br />Fooses Creek upSTream and downstream of the <br />Sa/ida HydropOll"eJ' plant, September 2001. <br />