Wild and Scenic River Suitability Evaluation

• Description: Documents related to the Lower Colorado River Wild and Scenic Staekholder Collaborative
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 6/30/2010
• Author: Lower Colorado River Wild and Scenic Staekholder Collaborative
• Title: Wild and Scenic River Suitability Evaluation
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Meeting

b. Similarly adjusting the wilderness boundary (southern portion of the NCA)to the
southern edge of the water of the river(changing with the river's volume and level to
ensure that the wilderness never includes the river);
c. Consider including limited variations in this new(river's edge)wilderness boundary to
accommodate activities and facilities, if necessary, at certain, high-use areas (e.g., Black
Rocks and Mee Canyon);
d. Adding legislative language affirming that:
"Where the Colorado River is used as reference for defining the boundary of the
Conservation Area and the Wilderness, the boundary shall be located at the water's edge
and change according to the river's level. Regardless of the level of the Colorado River,
no portion of the Colorado River is included in the Wilderness or in the Conservation
Area."
e. Clarifying BLM's authority to manage invasive species(weeds)in the NCA and
wilderness,using whatever tools necessary; and
f. Legislatively releasing Colorado River Segment 3 from"suitability"under the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act and from associated wild and scenic study and planning processes.
Taken together, these measures will accomplish several important things: improving the care and
management of the land and helping guide other aspects of our wild and scenic
recommendations. This proposal will:
• Make absolutely clear that the Colorado River, and any water in the river,will never be
included in or affected by the adjacent location of the NCA or the wilderness;
• Make absolutely clear that land south of the river is in the NCA and in the wilderness,
thus clarifying management, ensuring reliable protection for wilderness and the values
there, and providing clear,understandable boundaries for users;
• Provide management flexibility at select high-use areas;
• Ensure continued administrative access, including motorized access and use of motorized
and mechanical tools when needed—by the BLM, state agencies, and local agencies for,
but not limited to:
o emergency response and rescue;
o law enforcement;
o fire fighting;
o response to insects and disease;
o recreation management; and
o general management;
• Allow continued grazing in the NCA and wilderness, as practiced now and before the
original designations, including motorized use agreements for administration of the
allotments within the NCA;
• Ensure continued authority of the State of Colorado(DOW)to manage and regulate
hunting, fishing, and wildlife management in the NCA and wilderness;