Memorandum Agenda Item 22i 05/13/2002

• Board Meeting Date: 5/13/2002
• Description: Board Meeting Deep Creek Yampatika Ute Widerness Bill
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

•
STATE OF COLORADO
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ' •
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street,Room 718
Denver,Colorado 80203
Phone:[phone]
TDD:[phone] DEPARTMENT OF
Fax [phone] NATURAL
RESOURCES
March 19,2002
Bill Owens
Governor
The Honorable Scott McInnis Greg E.Watcher
Executive Director
Chairman
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health i
Committee on Resources
U.S.House of Representatives s
1337 Longworth I
Washington,D.C. 20515 r
1
Dear Chairman McInnis:
The State of Colorado is committed to working cooperatively with interested persons and
the federal government to ensure that water resources are protected in accordance with State law
in the proposed"Deep Creek-Yampatika Wilderness Area." We commend Chairman McInnis
and his staff for their hard work and dedication on this issue.
i
As you know,the State of Colorado supports a new approach to federal and State
1 relations in regards to water, H.R.2963 takes a significant step in that direction. This carefully
crafted legislation was fumed after countless hours of negotiation and deliberation among ID
diverse parties. It respects water resources,State laws,interstate compacts,people and wildlife
by fostering cooperation rather than conflict.
i
The State cannot support Representative Udall's proposed amendment. This last-minute .
addition creates a federal mandate to the Colorado Water Conservation Board(CWCB)to acquire
a determined amount of water. This not only flies in the face of well-established principles of i
State and federal law,but threatens the significant progress made towards real environmental I
protection in this legislation. As you know,the CWCB is statutorily charged-to take and consider
recommendations for instream flows from the public and from federal agencies, The board I
already holds instream flows in this area,but welcomes dialogue as to other needs as a result of
this legislation.
The federal government has already wasted some$70 million unsuccessfully fighting I
States in the West for water. We urge the Subcommittee to work towards real protection and to
pass this legislation as offered by the Chairman. 'Thank you.
N
Sincere] ,
f P
Kent Holsinger
Assistant Director
li
Board of Land Commissioners♦Division of Minerals&Geology/Geological Survey
Oil&Gas Conservation Commission•Colorado State Parks•State Forest Service
Water Conservation Board•Division of Water Resources•Division of Wildlife i•
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Coforado Water Conservation Board”
Flood Protection•Water Supply Planning and Financing•Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection•Conservation and Drought Planning