BOARD00195

• Board Meeting Date: 3/20/2000
• Description: Water Resources and Power Authority Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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RECEIVED
MAR 11 B 200n

COLORADO RIVER WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT

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Protecting Western Colorado Water Since /937

February 18, 2000

Ms. Martha Ketelle, Forest Supervisor
White River National Forest
P.O. Box 948
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602

RE: White River Forest Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Dear Ms. Ketelle:

The Colorado River Water Conservation District ("River District") is pleased to offer its comments
concerning the above-named documents. The River District is a political subdivision of the State
of Colorado responsible for the conservation, use and development of the water resources of the
Colorado River to which the State of Colorado is entitled under the 1922 and 1948 Colorado River
cornpacts and for meeting the water needs of the District's residents. The River District includes all
or part of 15 counties in west-central and northwest Colorado. The River District's area includes
the entirety of the White River National Forest.

Overview:
The River District commends the White River National Forest (WRNF) for its conspicuous efforts
to solicit comments on the Draft Forest Management Plan (Management Plan).

The River District has numerous concerns with several water-related aspects of the Management
Plan and with the alternatives identified in the DEIS. This letter identifies these concerns roughly
in the order in which they appear in the plan document with one exception. While we believe each
of our concerns is valid and deserving amendment, our priority issue is the fOllowing.

SUITE #204 . 201 CENTENNIAL STREET
. P.O. BOX 11201GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO 81602
[phone] . FAX /9701 945-87QQ. -- ".,...,..~-

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