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<br />.. <br />.' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.' ~ j, <br /> <br />United States <br />Department of <br />Agriculture <br /> <br />Forest <br />Serrice <br /> <br />Grand Mesa, <br />Uncompahgre and <br />Gunnison <br />National Forests <br /> <br />2250 Highway 50 <br />Delta, CO 81416 <br />Voice: 970-874-6600 <br />TDD: 970-874-6660 <br /> <br />File Code: 2540 <br />Date: January 10, 2005 <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman and Mr. Todd Doherty <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board - Stream and Lake <br />Protection Section <br />1313 Shennan Street, Room 723 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />RECEWl"F.!.D <br /> <br />JAN 13 2005 <br /> <br />()p1otado Water Consarve[f.;,; f.t: <br /> <br />Dear Dan and Todd, <br /> <br />The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest would like to recommend <br />protection ofinstream flows within the national forest for both the East Fork and Middle Fork of <br />Escalante Creek. From our perspective the flow amounts and periods recommended for <br />protection represent the minimum necessary to preserve the aquatic values associated with these <br />streams flowing across the national forest. The streams originate on the Uncompahgre Plateau <br />and are tributary to the Gunnison River. They are located primarily within Mesa County. Forest <br />Service personnel performed the field surveys in June 2004, with some assistance by Trout <br />Unlimited. This work was done in a coordinated fashion with efforts undertaken by the Bureau <br />of Land Management on lands they managed below the national forest. <br /> <br />Over 90% of the Escalante basin from its headwaters to the confluence with the Gunnison River <br />is public land ownership. Within the reaches recommended on Middle Fork and East Fork <br />Escalante there are no private parcels. The only non-federal parcel is property owned by the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife at the confluence of the two streams. Due to the oWnership, these <br />lands and the streams that flow through them are relatively pristine and important in their <br />contributiop to ecological sustainability and diversion of aquatic and riparian ecosystems. <br /> <br />The issue of water availability and ability to provide good estimates on stream flows is a topic <br />that concerns us. The use of existing tools may be providing inaccurate information that is then <br />used to reduce recommended protection levels below what field based surveys have suggested <br />are necessary to protect the environment to a reasonable degree. Given that the prior <br />, appropriation system dictates the administration of rights in priority during times of shortage, <br />senior water rights holders would not be injured in the event the instream flow right exceeds the <br />, stream flow. We are advocating-that on headwater streams located on public lands, this be given <br />consideration in the development of recommended protection. <br /> <br />el <br /> <br />Caring {or the Land and Serring People <br /> <br />PrInted on Recyded Paper '0 <br />