BOARD00356

• Board Meeting Date: 5/22/2000
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.

.

.

lf1n1 'Ii.......

................1....

I I"'" 1..."1..... ,.......

~

...~rco>.
,; ......--....~O..
/.:...""oo-.Q. ,_.:;.;:~
/;;( (~:/, ";0,
.",/. ....,;. 'C:
.\.~." "';';"1)'~I,.
, I,' j , -J.
'~ ",." . - I'
!..~~~~;J.~~:;..: .

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF COLORADO
Ken Salazar

May 9, 2000

Cc-: 5v S~
Pj\~

By Telecopy and U.S. Mail

Lyle Laverty, Regional Forester
USDA Forest Service
Rocky Moun!ain Region
P.O. Box 25127 '
Lakewood, CO 80225

RE: Comments on Proposed Revised White River National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan

Dear Mr. Laverty:

, .
I am submitting these comments because of my oncem aboUt li VI the proposed
management plan for the White River National Forest eats water reso' ce issues. I believe that
relying on the Forest Service's acquisition ofinstream wwatcr ri and the Forest Service's
regulatory authority to provide water for wildlife and fish II virtually guarantee conflict
and litigation. I also believe that a morc cooperative approach can avoid those undesirable
consequences.

My comments focus primarily on the following provision of the management plan:

Objective 1.10 - By the end of the plan period, acquire instream flow water rights or
establish instream flow protection measures in special-use authorizations which protect
10% of all perennial streams.

Vlhen implemented in conjunction with the management plan's ambitious wildlife and fish
habitat objectives (e.g., Objective 1.8) and water and aquatic resources standards (e.g., standards
1 and 9), Objective 1.10 will collide head on with Colorado water law and the reasonable,
investment-backed expec!ations of cities and irrlilators who located their water supply facilities
on national forest lands at the invitation of the Forest Service.

State Services Building. 1525 Sherm,n Street-5'" Floor. Denver. Colorado 80203
Phone [phone] . FAX [phone]