Hermosa Creek Workgroup Drafting Committee Consensus Recommendations and Issues for Continued Work

• Description: River Protection Workgroup
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Author: River Protection Workgroup
• Title: Hermosa Creek Workgroup Drafting Committee Consensus Recommendations and Issues for Continued Work
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Meeting

in working on water protection tools that may be agreed to for
Hermosa Creek if they are not related to WSR (perhaps ones that
are not as restrictive). This is a topic of future discussion by the
Drafting Committee and the RPW Steering Committee.
- The Drafting Committee needs more time to determine how this
recommendation would "fit with" the consensus recommendations
for the land protection. The central questions raised at this point
include:
➢ What would be the best strategy(ies) for moving forward with
legislation for the Hermosa Creek watershed?
➢ Should the land and water protections be included in a
package after all of the five Public Workgroups finish their
processes and work? Or, should the Hermosa Creek land
protections move forward now with possible additional
legislation for any water protections later?
➢ Therefore, the Draft Committee requests more time to
work through these complex issues of timing and
strategy.
Issues and Concerns List:
For the conservation /environmental community, a primary concern is
impoundment of the water via a major reservoir or structure on Hermosa
Creek and its tributaries.
For those who are concerned with planning for future water and water
development, the main concerns are quantification, the potential of a
Federally Reserved Water Right, and being asked to agree to something
that limits options for water planning, development and use in the future
especially without knowing what will happen in other basins.
Timing of when /how to move forward on any legislation for the Hermosa
Creek area needs more thought and consensus building.
Next Steps
• The Drafting Committee continues to meet and work through issues, and
to define the specific elements of the "Hermosa Creek Legislation."
• A strategy is developed for timing and content of the legislation.
• The Hermosa Creek Workgroup continues to be engaged at key points.
• Determine if the WSR issue can or should be "looked atVaddressed from
a basin perspective? If so, develop a plan for proceeding with this new
model. (Note: The RPW Steering Committee is the decision maker on this
point.)
• Conclude these discussions and proceed with finalizing a plan.
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