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Charles F. Leaf, PhD, P.E. <br />59365 WCR R <br />Merino, Colorado 80741 <br />(970) 522-1829 <br />pLAi i C R1VChC fulY{JhCC1LUt71C <br />RESF4RCN CENTER <br />October 20, 1999 <br />Ms. Allison Pasternak <br />Coiorado State Capitoi, Room 029 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Dear Ms. Pasternak, <br />Enclosed for ynl.zT fPv:Pw :s a ?raft af Research Paper FRHffC-b entitled: Past, Present, and Future <br />Effects o,f Forest Service Management Policies on Narth Platte River Water Yields. This report <br />contains careruliy researched analyses which show that future water yields in the Upper North <br />Platte Basin will diminish hy at least 16,504 to 18,440 aLlyr be1ow cttrcer?t ievels-as ihe result of <br />forest regrowth on areas harvested by the U.S. Forest Service since the late forties on the Routt and <br />Medic::e RoW 114'attiondi roresis. Additionally, it is reasonable to assume that future decreased <br />yields of a similar magnitude will occur in the South Platte Basin. The *nin:mal timber harvesting <br />proposed by the U.S. Forest Service during the next 50 years falls far short of compensating for <br />reduced yields from PxYected fomstregrowU'i cn arcas ibgged since 1945 (Plate I-b). <br />Combined itow decreases irom forest regrowth on a?eas logged during the past 50 yeazs in the Fike, --Arapaho-Roosevelt, Routt, and Me?cine $ev,v Na±zon? FQ,es+,s co;;;d Ga,iiy exeeed 20,000 axlyr <br />after 20 years. T'his compares with a Platte River Partnership goal of 60,000 af/yr of target flow <br />shoztage m,itlgation rciaiive io the 1975-94 baseline ciuring the next 15 or perhaps 20 years. <br />Also enclosed for your review is Research PapPr PRN.I?C-3 eZtitled: ^urnulatzve hyarologic im- <br />pacts af U.S Forest Service management practices on the Routt, Arapaho-Roosevelt, Pike, and <br />Medicire Bozv 1 Jationui Fvrests: roiential for water yield improvement. <br />This report shows that South Platte River headwater streamflaws could be augmented by at least <br />135,000 af/yT f?'om enyirnnnie;;;a?ly scund forest management desigued to increase streamflow in <br />the Arapaho-Roosevelt and Pike National Forests (Plate I-a) <br />Perhaps the most important characteristic of the P?wtte 1River Rasun is thUa urider our existing system