BOARD00195

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

Page 9
White River National Forest Management Plan Comments
Februarv 18, 2000

upstream of the designated area? For example, could any upstream water depletion and its
associated consumptive use be considered an impact on the recreational values of the Colorado River
through Glenwood Canyon ifthat segment is designated recreational? How would this be decided?

One example of the practical impact of designation is the inability of the West Divide Water
Conservancy District to develop its 1957 water rights associated with Osgood and Placita Reservoirs
and the River District's Avalanche and Huntsman canals if the lower Crystal River were designated
under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Loss of the ability to fulfill the public purposes for which
these rights were obtained and the associated economic value of these water rights, as well as the
public investment in these rights, to date, should be recognized in some fashion in any factual
discussion of potential Wild and Scenic designations.

These comments were reviewed an approved by the Board of Directors of the Colorado River Water
Conservation District at its January 2000 meeting. We offer these comments at this time in order
to afford the Forest Service ample time for consideration. However, we reserve our right to submit
additional comments prior to the May 9, 2000 deadline.

The River District has also reviewed the Colorado Department of Natural Resources' comment. We
endorse and join the state in its water-related comments to the plan. Thank you for your time and
attention to our comments.

Sincerely,

I

/

Paul J. 00, President
Board of Directors

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c: CRWCD Directors
The Honorable Scott McInnis
The Honorable Wayne Allard
The Honorable Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Mr. Lyle Laverty, USFS