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WESTERN ADVENTURE <br />Fri., March 31,1995 Rocky. Mountain News <br />State has chance to buy prime land <br />By Charley Able <br />Rocky Mountain News Outdoor Writer <br />One of the last pieces of prime <br />property near the South Platte <br />River and the property's accompa- <br />nying generous water rights could <br />wind up in the hands of the Colora- <br />do Division of Wildlife, but only if <br />it gains legislative approval during <br />the waning days of this session. <br />The property, actually a combi- <br />nation of farms with the Centenni- <br />al Wildlife Preserve as a center- <br />piece, lies north of the town of <br />Orchard and just west of Jackson <br />Reservoir in northeastern Colora- <br />do. It is situated in an area duck <br />hunters refer to as the "Golden <br />Triangle," a wetlands area of <br />lakes, ponds, sloughs and river <br />filled with such game species as <br />ducks, geese, deer, pheasants, <br />quail and antelope. <br />WILDLIFE REFUGE <br />tected species could cost more <br />than $100 million. <br />By acting now, the legislature <br />could allow the division to purchase <br />the Centennial property and water <br />rights. Significant participation al- <br />ready has been tentatively commit- <br />ted by private sporting groups and <br />foundations, which have agreed to <br />provide two- thirds of the funds to <br />purchase and operate the refuge. <br />Local opposition to possible fed- <br />eral ownership of the property <br />prompted the agency to convene a <br />task force to investigate alterna- <br />tives to what USFWS hoped would <br />become a national wildlife refuge. <br />In early March, the task force <br />confirmed what many outdoor <br />groups already believed: The Col- <br />orado Division of Wildlife should <br />acquire the property, putting new <br />opportunities for hunting, wildlife <br />watching, hiking and other out- <br />It also attracts such nongame <br />for a community of about 2,000 <br />door pursuits within 60 miles of <br />animals as white - fronted ibis, per- <br />people. But, more importantly <br />1.3 million Colorado residents. <br />egrine falcons, terns and tundra <br />from a wildlife standpoint, that <br />But the division's funds are lim- <br />swans. The swans, rare in Colora- <br />amount of water could create more <br />ited, and it takes an act of the <br />do, are becoming regular winter <br />than 6,000 acres of wetlands. <br />legislature to approve such an ac- ; <br />visitors to the site because of the <br />Excess water could, if needed, <br />quisition. The only chance for the ; <br />abundance of suitable habitat. <br />be diverted back into the river to <br />division to acquire the property <br />Acquisition of the Centennial <br />facilitate the survival of native fish - <br />this year rests in the state Senate, ' <br />property and surrounding lands <br />es. Of the South Platte's 29 native <br />where a late bill dealing with the <br />has been a goal of the U.S. Fish <br />species, one is listed as threatened <br />matter still could be introduced '. <br />and Wildlife Service for several <br />or endangered, nine are species of <br />and dealt with, <br />years, partly because of the 4 cu- <br />"special concern" and two have <br />And because of the aggressive <br />bic foot per second water right — <br />disappeared from the river. <br />marketing techniques pursued by <br />about 1,680 acre feet of water for <br />Biologists fear species will con- <br />Frederick Ross Co:, the real es- <br />the seven months a year it is <br />tinue to decline, leading to federal <br />tate outfit handling the property,; <br />available. The water can be used <br />listing and protection. Such a de- <br />those who support division acqui -' <br />for a variety of purposes: recre- <br />cline could lead to costly restora- <br />sition of the property believe next . <br />ational, irrigati?n, ,industrial and <br />tion efforts.. - , , _ <br />year might be too late. By. then, <br />municipal use. <br />'beite;ciovicoar <br />r <br />On the upper Coforad¢ 1iiy.er, ' .the property could pass into pri- <br />!•re?rc.� <br />,effgrts to save #our.feezaliy gi6-"' <br />vate hands. <br />