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June 30, 2008 <br />BLM for Colorado River Segments 4 through 7. These values include the following: <br />recreational, which includes fishing (Wild Trout Waters) and floatboating; scenic driving; scenic; <br />wildlife (bald eagles, river otter); geological; paleontological; botanical; and historic. <br />The Conceptual Plan includes the following information: <br />• Data available on the current recreational fishery and floatboating uses and the SG's <br />plans for reviewing available data and addressing data gaps. <br />• The SG's proposed approach for quantifying the rate and timing of flows needed to <br />support and protect the ORVs. These targets will help the Stakeholder Group assess the <br />effectiveness of different protection measures. <br />• A mechanism to develop land -based strategies that are protective of the ORVs. <br />• A mechanism to develop water quality strategies that are protective of the ORVs. <br />• A description of the types of issues that have the potential to affect the ORVs. <br />• An initial list of potential ORV protection measures identified by the SG, organized in <br />two tiers with the first tier representing measures that the majority of SG members <br />identified as most promising and the second tier including additional concepts that may <br />be considered by the SG in its proposed management plan alternative. Any one or any <br />combination of concepts may be included in the final Management Plan Alternative <br />depending upon what the flow needs are for Segments 4 through 7 and upon the ability to <br />implement the concepts. <br />Tier 1 Concepts supported by majority of Stakeholders: <br />a. Delivery of Water to a Downstream Demand: Water that is made available for <br />streamflow protection would be released into the Colorado River or its tributaries <br />upstream of the protected stream segments. <br />b. Protection Offered by Existing Senior Water Rights: The existing river operations <br />and water rights administration regime have the potential to maintain ORVs. <br />c. Protection Provided by Upper Colorado River Endangered Species Recovery <br />Program: The Final Programmatic Biological Opinion issued in December 1999 <br />included a Recovery Action Plan that identified several flow enhancements to assist the <br />recovery of endangered fish in the 15 -mile Reach above the confluence of the Colorado <br />and Gunnison Rivers. Several flow enhancements /sources could impact stream Segments <br />4 through 7. <br />d. CWCB Instream Flow Protection: The CWCB has exclusive authority in the State of <br />Colorado to hold instream flow water rights for the preservation or improvement of the <br />natural environment to a reasonable degree. CWCB instream flow options include: <br />(1) Instream flow for baseflow <br />(2) Instream flows for large seasonal or flushing flows <br />(3) Acquisition of senior decreed water rights for ISF use <br />(4) Shepherding of CWCB water for downstream users through study segments <br />-2- <br />