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Carbondale Valley Journal Page 2 of 3 <br />,' -, W. <br />funds to create these recreational amenities if the necessary stream flov <br />be protected." <br />One outstanding issue with SB 37 was the retained jurisdiction provision <br />eliminated on Wednesday. But, according to an aide to Rep. Curry, ther( <br />three more formal readings of the bill where it or other provisions could <br />reattached. Under the provision, water courts would retain jurisdiction o <br />water rights for a minimum of 20 years. During the retained jurisdiction <br />anybody could challenge the RICD right and request the court to revoke <br />"Forcing RICD right holders to return to court to defend rights that have <br />been granted would be burdensome, unfair and extremely costly to the <br />communities and their taxpayers," Natapow said. <br />Another issue that would have prevented right holders from claiming the <br />unless 85 percent of their right was available was also amended on Wed <br />partly because of vocal citizen opposition. That provision was unique onl <br />RICD and made it a second class water right, said Natapow. <br />Although lawmakers have made several positive concessions on SB 37, 1 <br />said it is still a good idea to get the RICD application in because it's harc <br />what will happen as the bill continues to be debated. <br />Applying for a RICD is just one step out of many in the town of Carbond, <br />to create a river park that could include two whitewater features. A stud <br />feasibility of creating the features was completed in 2003 by local plann( <br />Farrar and Recreation Engineering and Planning (REP), a Boulder -based <br />specializing in creating whitewater parks. <br />"Securing water rights is almost always a good idea, said REP Project M <br />Mike Harvey, who will be helping the town wade through the legal proce <br />obtaining a RICD. "Nobody has a crystal ball to predict what is going to 1 <br />50 years, nobody could have predicted the growth that has occurred in t <br />years. One thing's for certain, there's not an end in sight. Why wouldn't <br />that certainty ?" <br />Even though there are several senior water rights downstream, Farrar a( <br />securing water for recreational uses in Carbondale is a smart move. <br />"A RICD keeps water flowing in this part of the river. It's good for fishers <br />for fish, good for other water users," said Farrar, who is an active memo <br />Gateway River Park citizen task force. GOCO will require some high levy <br />assurance that water will flow over the features that they fund." <br />Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), an organization funded by the state k <br />likely source of grant funds to help Carbondale create the river park. <br />Before the town can apply for a grant, it will not only need water rights, <br />also be helpful to own the property where the park is to be located. This <br />issue is undoubtedly the biggest hurdle in developing the park. The towr <br />negotiating with landowners on both sides of the river. <br />"The work that is going to be done for the RICD will be applicable to dev <br />the whitewater park," said Farrar, who is still optimistic that the dream 1 <br />soon become a reality (see related story). <br />http: / /www.valley joumal.com/home.php /home.php ?content= article &article =2462 512612006 <br />