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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br /> <br />.- <br /> <br />e <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Dan McAullitfe. Acting Director <br />Mr. Dan Merriman, Section Chief <br />Stream and Lake PrOtection Section <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />13 13 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />November 6, 2000 <br /> <br />Re: San Miguel River (nstream Flow Protection <br /> <br />Dear Sirs, <br /> <br />I am writing to express my support for instream flow protection for the San Miguel River between Fall <br />Creek and Horsefly Creek, San Miguel County. <br /> <br />I am a resident of San Miguel County, and have lived on a tributary of the San Miguel River fur 13 years <br />(Leopard Creek). I am proud of the efforts of our community to protect and restore the San Miguel <br />Watershed, and believe that the health of the San Miguel River is an integral part of the health of our <br />community as a whole. <br /> <br />I support instream flow protection for this beautiful stretch of river for many reasons. Specifically, they are <br />as follows: <br /> <br />My husband is an avid fly fisherman, as are many of my friends. I believe that minimwn riverflow is <br />essential to maintaining aquatic and fish habitats, as well as river riparian zones. We must do everything we <br />can to protect our fisheries. <br /> <br />My understanding is that preliminary ice flow studies have shown that as river flows decrease (due to <br />diversion, fur example), ice flows may increase. I have witnessed several frightening ice flows during the <br />winter along the San Miguel, and fear that the dangers will increase. Not only are there many homes at <br />stake when these dangerous flows build up and eventually break free, but the damage to the fishery and <br />macroinvertebrates during these ice flows could be substantial. Maintaining an adequate instream flow will <br />serve to reduce this risk. <br /> <br />I am a river raller, and my husband is a kayaker. We have chosen this area of the country to live due to its <br />incredible beauty, and its proximity to the many recreational rivers. The San Miguel River is an exciting, <br />beautiful stretch of whitewater ,that provides a great deal of challenge. It is the only river we have access to <br />without driving three hours or more. We can leave work at 5, and still get in a couple of hours of play. Our <br />high water season is short, and to reduce the flow in the river would make it literally nonexistent. <br /> <br />Finally, the beauty of the San Miguel River corridor has increased tenfold due to the efforts oflhe San <br />Miguel Watershed Coalition, Bureau of Land Management, The Idarado Mining Company Cleanup, and <br />Telluride Ski and Golf Company, to name a few. I believe it is essential to our community to protect the <br />minimwn flow, protect the environment, and allow the San Miguel River to thrive as it was meant to. <br /> <br />Thank you for your consideration of this matter. <br /> <br />. Sin~ely, <br />ChUJ~t'~ll ~ eM'}lc1~ <br />Christine T. Newman ) <br />