9370 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9370
• Author: Colorado Water Workshop.
• Title: 1996 Colorado Water Workshop.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Western State College of Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Stare ("..n~l Building
1313 Shemtan Street
Denver. Colmado 802Cl3
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]

STATE OF COLORADO

.

The
Instream Flow Subcommittee
of the
Colorado Water Conservation Board

Roy Romer
Govemor
James S. Lc>tiIhfo.atl
Cccm::ive Di1=or. DNR
Daries C. I..ile. P .E.
Direaor. CWCB

Backaround In May 1995, the Colorado Water Conservation Board adopted a revised Long Range Plan which included
goals and objectives for environmental conflict resolution. One of the objectives included a provision for "Program
Evaluation" -- to establish an Instream Flow Advisory Committee with representatives from water development,
environmental. and wildlife interests and with local, state and federal agencies for the purpose of identifying significant
public concerns and to provide strategies for resolving any identified concerns.

A subcommittee of the Board was created to assist in developing this objective. The Board members serving on the
Subcommittee include: David Smith (Yampa-White Drainage), Eric Kuhn (Main Colorado Drainage), Janice Sheftel (San
Miguel, Dolores-San Juan Drainages), Patricia Wells (City and County of Denver), and Alan Hamel (Arkansas Drainage).

The first meeting of the Subcommittee was held April 30, 1996 and focused on defining the role of the Subcommittee
and discussing procedures and strategies for accomplishing the Program Evaluation objective. Notice of this first
meeting was mailed to over 550 interested parties. After much discussion, the meeting participants decided that, in lieu
of a formal advisory board, a less formal process would provide better opportunity for open forum discussions between
the interested public, Board members and Staff. The meeting participants also decided on a series of 4 meetings to
identify "significant public concerns" which would then be followed by a series of meetings to identify strategies for the
Board's consideration in addressing the identified concems.

The second meeting of the Subcommittee was held June 6, 1996. Again, advance notice of the meeting was provided to
over 550 parties. At this second meeting, Staff provided the participants with an overview of the different program areas,
policies and procedures. The meeting participants worked with a facilitator to develop a list of issues and concerns for
discussion at future meetings. The group also selected from this list topics for further discussion at th~ Gunnison Water
Workshop.

The Gunnison Water WorkshoP The purpose of the Subcommittee discussions at the Workshop is to enhance the
Subcommittee's existing efforts to obtain additional public input on strategic program and policy issues related to the
Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Program. The topics previously identified by Subcommittee participants include
"Defining the Natural Environment and Flows to Protect It", "Cooperative Partnerships", and "Non-State ISF Rights".
Input from the Workshop breakout sessions will be incorporated into discussions at future Subcommittee meetings.

Future Subcommittee Meetinas Future Subcommittee meetings are scheduled for:

. The week of October 7" 1996 in Glenwood Springs. The focus of this meeting will be on identification of the natural
environment and quantification of instream flow needs and will expand on the discussions at the Gunnison Water
Workshop.

. The week of December 9, 1996 in Denver. The focus of this meeting will be on prioritizing the issues, and
developing a report to submit to the Board in January 1997.

If you would like to attend the future Subcommittee meetings or have your name added to the Instream Flow
Subcommittee mailing list, please contact Dan Merriman at [phone].

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