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<br /> <br />Telluride Daily Planet - Local news <br /> <br />Page I of2 <br /> <br />GUEST COMMENTARY <br /> <br />e SM River instream flow - the issue of our <br />lifetime <br /> <br />By Linda Luther <br /> <br />The bad news is there is another meeting tomorrow. Even worse, for the <br />San Miguel River, this could be the most i1l1portant meeting of our <br />lifetime. We need to rock this one. <br /> <br />A few acknowledgements: I am a newly-hired county employee and <br />former Watershed Coalition coordinator. In writing this, I am putting <br />aside both 1l1antles and speaking for myself. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Tomorrow at 7 p.m. in room 201 in the Miramonte Building, the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board will hold a meeting to take public <br />comment on recommendations for minimU1l1 instream flow on the main <br />stem of the San Miguel River from Fall Creek to Horsefly Creek as well <br />as on tributaries of both the San Miguel and Dolores rivers. I am most <br />familiar with the CWCB's recommendations on the main stem, therefore, <br />my comments refer to the main stem recommendations. <br /> <br />These rec01l1mendations are worthy of our support for the following <br />reasons: <br /> <br />There is currently no instream flow protection between Fall Creek and <br />Horsefly Creek. <br /> <br />The recommendations do not hurt existing water rights holders. The <br />earliest appropriation date for the instream flow filings would be 2002. <br />All currently existing water rights are senior to the proposed filings. <br /> <br />The recommendations are based on several years of scientific analysis <br />and are designed to support fish habitat. Fisb are the indicator species in <br />a river and their health speaks to the health of the system. This is not <br />about designer fishing for yuppies. <br /> <br />Under Colorado water law, it is possible to divert every last drop of <br />water out of a stream or river. To prevent this, an instream water right <br />must be held by the Colorado Water ConserVation Board - only the <br />CWCB can bold water rights for the "reasonable protection of the <br />environment. " <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Protecting river flow is important to maintain the river ecosystems <br />which include aquatic and fish habitats and river riparian zones. <br /> <br />http://www.telluridegateway.cOlnlarchive/2001_ archive/06060l dp.html <br /> <br />07/1 0/200 I <br />