BOARD00443

• Board Meeting Date: 7/23/2001
• Description: ISF Section - New Recommendations in Division 4: Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Montrose and San Miguel Counties
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

WORD WOMAN
ROSEMERRY WAHTOLAi TROMMER
i
POET WRITER EpITOR

e

November 7, 2000

Mr. Dan McAulliffe, Acting Director
Mr. Dan Merriman, Section Chief
Stream and Lake Protection Section
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, CO 80203

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in support of the proposal to protett the flows in the San Miguel River
from Fall Creek to Horsefly Creek. This proposal, submitted by the Bureau of Land
Management and Colorado Division of Wildlife, will not only protect the river's lishery, it
will also aid the riparian vegetation and minimize impacts from river ice formation and ice
&~ .

As a longtime resident in the San Miguel River valley and a recent property owner within
the river stretch being discussed, I was surprised to hear that such instream flow protection
regulations were not alxeady in place. I understand the increasing need for water in the West,
yet it is wrong to completely divert every drop of water from a stream or river. The fish life
could not sustain it. The recommended flows submitted to you by the BLM and the
CDOW take into account the minimum levels necessary for the spawning and survival of
the brown and rainbow trout. '

e

i
But this is not just a matter of maintaining healthy :lish. Protecting the river flows is also
essential for maintaining riparian zones. It is also important in a less quantifiable way: The
San Miguel is celebrated as a relatively intact river. There are so few examples of healthy,
freeflowing rivers, it's essential to protect the few that still remain.

Please decide in favor of the BLM/CDOW proposal to legally protect the instream
flows on the San Miguel River between Fall Creek and ~orsefly Creek.

Sincer~ly,

.

e

PO BOX 1911 . TBLLURIDE, COL;ORADO . 81435
PHONE!.: 97(1-728-0399 . FAX: :[phone]
BMAIL . [e-mail]