NLLACQ00017

• Case Number: W-569-72
• Lake Name: MEXICAN CUT POND # 4
• Watershed: Crystal River
• Water Division: 5
• Water District: 38
• County: Gunnison
• NLL Acq - Doc Type: Contracts, MOA/MOU, Leases, Agreements

WHEREAS, the DEPARTMENT is authorized:by the Act to identify Bnd
protect 'certain' natural areas which "s~I've as examples of the native
condition in studies relating to,air. water, and soil quality and
habitat product~vityll; and .

t4HEREAS', RMBL filed fcr and receive'd decrees on November 6. 1972
fcr pc'nds 3':"4; on March' 1, 1973 fcr ponds 5-8, ,10 a~d 11; a-nd on
Sep'tember 21, 1972 for ponds 9, 16" 17 and Galena Lakej all "lith
appropriations .dating back to July 1. 1932; and

WHEREAS, the, BOARD has leased from RMBL certain Hater Rights in eleven
glacial shelf ponds and Galena Lake within the Property; which lease
restricts use of the water to'llpiscatcrial, non";manipulative. biolcgical
research and teaching, wildlif~ procreation and natural heritage
preservation, not to include the intrcducticn of non-indigenous
species"; and

WHEREAS, the BOARD and RMBL desire to preserve and to protect the'
natural character of said ponds and Galena Lake; and

WHEREAS, the DEPARTMENT has determined" pursuant to. its 'criteria,
with the app~oval of the Council, that RMBL1s Water Rights for said
ponds and G.alena Lake (hereinafter referred to, as Water Rights) qualify
. 'for inclusion 'in ,the Colorado Natur~l Areas System as part o~ the desig-
nated 'natural area; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the attrihutes of Galena Lake and said
ppnds, the ponds and Lake provide one or more cf the benefits described
in C.R.S. 1973, 36-10-104(1);

NOW rHEREFORE' it is hereby agreed that:

1. Designation of Property as a Natural Area. Upon filing of these
Articles of Designaticn with, and the acceptance, cf sam,e by, the
DEPARTMENT, with the advice and approval of the Council, the Property
described in Exhibit A' and th~ Water Rights described in Exhibits D and
E" said exhibits being attached her(lto and inc6rpcrated herein by
reference, shall become a designated scientific natural area and
thereby shall become part of the Colorado Natural Areas Syst~m. Said . :
designated natural area shall be known as the Mexican Cut/Galena
Mountain Scientific Natural Area.

2. Purpose, cf Designation. The DEPARTMENT has det~rmined, upcn
recommendation by the Council, that' the Property and Water Rights
qualify as a natural. area to be included in the Cclorado Natural Areas
System due to the follQwing:

a) The Property ccntains ,a unique series of glacial' shelf ponds
~ontaining a variety of natural. ecosystems for comparative
biolcgical studi~s j, ,and

b). The Property contai~s representative samples cf spruce-fi~ and
alpine plant communities; and

c) The.1?r'operty'and Ponds 4nd Lake ccntain additional scientific
attributes as d~cribed in Exhibit B, attached ~er~to and
incorporated herein by ref~rence; and

d) The Property and Ponds and, LaKe are be'ing managed 'by RMBL
pursuant' to. its lease with TNC as a research preserve' to
continue efforts to minimize the effects of research and
ed..uc:ational act'ivities. tQ maintain the area as isolated as
possible from external infltiences, and to, foster..basic
research of the highest qu~lity~

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