BOARD01476

• Board Meeting Date: 3/16/2004
• Description: ISF Section - Final Report to the Board re: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison National Forests - Pathfinder Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Final Report

April 2004

Goals and Objectives

Using the stream sorting characterizations (see Flow Dependent Values) the Steering
Committee developed Goals and Objectives for instream flow management for each of
the four stream classification categories (Table 3). The Goals define a direction or theme
for each ofthe four stream categories and the Objectives focus on a specific emphasis
relative to several of the key issues (see Issues and Concerns, above). The Goals change
focus or have different visions for the different stream classification categories. The level
of existing stream diversion has an influence on the Goals and Obj ectives for each
classification category, as does the presence or absence of species of concern.

The Objectives provide more specific direction for different uses or resource values. The
Objectives address specific values such as existing and conditional water rights,
ecological values, fish/amphibian habitats, unique or high-use recreational areas, stream
restoration, species recovery, and specific water quality concerns. Inherent in all the
Objectives is the need to address both the unique values or key issues and those common
or widespread values that provide a baseline of flow-dependent resources prevalent
throughout the forests. These baseline values include, but are not limited to:

. riparian vegetation
. wildlife water
. grazing water
. groundwater recharge
. wetlands
. native and sport-fish habitats
. dispersed and developed recreation use along streams
. aesthetics of flowing water
. natural hydrologic functions associated with stream flow

The more unique resource values and the amount of current water ,diversions most often
were linked to identified instream flow issues or concerns. Therefore, the Goals and
Objectives are directly tied to these values and issues rather than focused on the broader
and more common baseline values that occur throughout the forests. There is a general
pattern or vision for the different stream classification categories. The Steering
Committee looked at streams in the No Diversion category as a logical category to focus
on preservation, because these streams offer the greatest potential for instream resource
management with the least potential for conflict with existing water uses. For the
diversion categories (0 to 20% Diverted and 20 to 50% Diverted) where diversions
constitute less than 50 percent of stream flow, the vision is to recognize existing and
future water uses and the instream flow needs in a balanced fashion consistent with
multiple-use objectives. In the last category of the matrix, where diversions exceed 50
percent of stream flow, the vision recognizes existing water use but also the possible need
to implement more active management strategies to restore instream flows.

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