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-2- finalized its report, this presentation from the Forest Service is very timely since Supervisor Storch will be . retiring in April 2004 and this will be the Board's last opportunity to get his assessment of the Pathfinder Project. Bob has been asked to give some history of the project, what he hoped it would accomplish, how successful he feels it has been, the opportunities that it presents for not only the revised Forest Plan, but for current GMUG activities, and its applicability to other National Forest System lands in Colorado. Pathfinder Proiect Historv The Pathfinder Project is the "brainchild" of Forest Supervisor, Bob Storch. As he was embarking on the Forest Plan Revision process, it was his hope to find a "better process" to address the politically and legally contentious issues surrounding instream flow protection on National Forest System lands. Literally tens of millions of dollars have been spent and are being spent by the state, the federal government, water users, and conservation organizations in litigation over issues surrounding instream flow protection. The Pathfinder , process seeks to avoid a continuation ofthese expensive and divisive debates with a constructive, cooperative approach to water resource protection. It has been suggested that the Pathfinder process may have broad applicability on other National Forest System lands in Colorado, and other states as well. The Pathfinder Project, a pilot program initiated by the GMUG National Forests to provide external ideas, perspectives and options related to strategic planning for instream flow protection on National Forest System lands, has indeed explored many new "paths" in search of innovative solutions to resource protection issues. Since May 2000, representatives from 10 stakeholder groups, including water users, conservationists, water regulators and resource management agencies have met on a regular basis to provide local community . perspectives, ideas and possible ways to manage for instream flows on National Forest System lands. The mission of the Pathfinder Steering Committee is "to assist the Forest Service in providing appropriate instream flow protection on the GMUG National Forests". . Benefits To Date The Pathfinder Project has not only provided a forum for a collaborative dialogue on instream flow protection issues between diverse interest groups and the communities located adjacent to the forests, but it has resulted in the implementation of cooperative instream flow protection ventures between the state and the GMUG National Forests. At its January 2004 meeting the Board considered instream flow recommendations and formed its intent to appropriate instream flows on recommendations presented by stafffrom the GMUG National Forests, the state Division of Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management and the Board's staff. Furthermore, the GMUG staff participated in the Board's New Appropriations Workshop in February 2004 and committed to the development of additional recommendations for instrearn flow protection on the forests. It is hoped that this newfound cooperation, which is a "spin-off' of the Pathfinder Project, can continue to grow not only on the GMUG National Forests but also to other National Forest System lands in Colorado. Board Action No formal Board action is requested at this time, other than to continue to direct its staff to pursue instream flow protection opportunities with the Forest Service that are provided for under state law and Board policy, and to challenge the Forest Service to actively participate in Colorado's Stream and Lake Protection Program and to avail itself of the resource protection opportunities the program provides. . Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning