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w ater ror uoloraao springs ana muaay ditch tor Pueblo Page 2 of 2 <br /> core -of Pueblo, other diversions will reduce this flow to about 50 efs - a relative trickle about as low as the Arkansas River ever appears in <br /> the middle of a dry winter. To be clear, H.R. 3881 would have the same target flow, and could produce the same actual flow of 50 cfs, <br /> during both winter and summer. <br /> Currently, the average flow through Pueblo from about mid -May through mid -July ranges between 1,500 cfs and 2,500 cfs. Peak flows <br /> during the summer at present are seen in excess of 5,000 cfs. Unless H.R. 3881 is amended to include reasonable flow protections - such as <br /> the 100 cfs winter and 500 cfs summer minimum flows requested by the City of Pueblo in its recent testimony before Congress - it can take <br /> away the Arkansas River through Pueblo and leave us essentially only a muddy ditch in return. <br /> The plan provides Pueblo, and the rest of the Arkansas Valley, with something else as well. Preliminary data from a Fountain Creek <br /> sediment study recently found the sediment load in Fountain Creek at Security was already 216,000 tons for the period between May 31 <br /> and Sept. 30, 2001. The plan indicates that the anticipated flow increases on Fountain Creek due to increases in the volume of treated <br /> sewage and other return flows from Colorado Springs, Fountain, Widefield and Security will "adversely impact sediment erosion <br /> conditions along lower Fountain Creek, and increase sediment and associated pollutant loads to the lower Arkansas River." The plan also <br /> states that the increased flow in Fountain Creek "would adversely impact small fish and aquatic habitat." <br /> While we don't begrudge our neighbors to the north a reasonable amount of additional water from the Arkansas River, Southeastern needs <br /> to knock off trying to spin some story that Pueblo is going to benefit from H.R. 3881 as it's presently written. Colorado Springs and <br /> Fountain need to realize that their needs aren't the only ones in the nine counties that matter, and they should make a real effort to act <br /> responsibly toward Pueblo. They can only do that by guaranteeing minimum flows in the river that are adequate to protect Pueblo's <br /> interests. <br /> Tom Florczak is an assistant city attorney for Pueblo, but his opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the city <br /> government <br /> 01996 -2002 The pueblo Chieftain Online <br /> http://www.chieftain.com/print/arehive/2002/mar/31/edi5.htrn 04/02/2002 <br />