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Protect Healthy Streams , , While many of Colorado's rivers now suffer because of inadequate flows, others still support healthy ecosystems. As a top priority, the state should protect these last, best places before it is too late. There are tools to help keep rivers healthy including: . Employing agricultural and municipal conservation' to "stretch" existing water supplies and reduce the neelf for new dams and diversions, . Enforcing state instream flow rights against other water uses, to provide the degree of protection to which the instream flow rights are entitled. The North Fork of the Gunnison begins at the confluence of Muddy and Anthracite creeks high in the West Elk Mountains and flows 33 miles to join the main stem of the Gunnison River downstream of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The North Fork is a valuable com.munity resource that has helped stimulate a diverse economy in its bordering rural communities in western Colorado, Hunting, fishing, boating, tourism and scenic enjoyment are important to the quality of life for those living on or near the river, as well as for those visiting. However, like many rivers in Colorado, the North Fork is an over-appropriated system and suffers from-major water depletions. Within 20 miles there are 12 major irrigation diversions and numerous smaller ones, Most of these diversions utilize annual gravel "push-up" dams to divert water. These structures completely dryup sections of the river befor~ the irrigation return flows partially replenish streamflows in the channel dow!"stream. They also cause sedimentation and channel disturbances. The use of modern head gates and low-head weirs would not only North Fork of the Gunnison III . Investing in better stream m~nitoring to enhance enforcement of instream flow rights and provide data on stream health, . Filing for additional instream flow rightS on streams that need protection. Very few instream flow filings have been made in recent years - a trend the state should reverse. . Recogni~ing water rights for federal agencies (Forest Service, National Park Service) for protection of streams on federal lands. eliminate the annual use of bulldozers in the river bottom, but would limit diversions to only the decreed amount of water. These simple structures would thus protect long-term habitat stability, conserve water and increase instream flows while also enabling fish migration and recreational boating. .Unfortunately, because of cost, there are only two of these structures on the North Fork; the river's restoration would require many more. The North Fork of rhe Gunnison belowPaonia.