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.' Final Report April 2004 Pathfinder Project Steering Committee Report Strategies for Instream Flow Management The Pathfinder Project is a pilot program initiated by the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests. Its purpose is to provide external ideas, perspectives and options related to strategic planning for, and implementation of, instream flow protection on National Forest lands. The Forest Supervisor for the GMUG National Forests convened a meeting in May 2000 to bring together representatives from various stakeholder groups that traditionally have been involved with water resource issues on the GMUG National Forests to help address instream flow needs and strategic protection strategies that could assist the Forest Service in its Forest Plan revision process. The Forest Service has federal authorities to manage resources including water resources for multiple-use, sustained yield and to protect environmental values.l The Pathfinder Project attempted to resolve the contentious issues related to "bypass" flow (whereby the Forest Service requires that a quantity of the decreed diversionary water remain in a stream) authorities as defined by statute. The Pathfinder Project approach offers constructive alternatives to achieve the Forest Service's mandated outcomes for resource management and protection. While these alternatives may provide the means to achieve instream flow management objectives, the Forest Service will maintain its discretionary authority to add bypass flow requirements as conditions to special-use permits if such alternative strategies are unsuccessful in achieving needed instream flows for National Forest lands. The strategies and suggestions contained in this report reflect a consensus ofthe parties involved and these parties are credited with considerable compromise to achieve this consensus. However, stakeholders do not waive their rights to challenge For,est Service actions. Pathfinder Project Steering Committee Since the May 2000 meeting, representatives from eleven stakeholder groups (water users, conservationists, and water regulatory and 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 lands. The Pathfinder Project Steering Committee members represent the following groups or stakeholders: Club 20 Grand Mesa and Grand Valley Water Users Overland Reservoir and Ditch Company High Country Citizens' Alliance Local ranchers Trout Unlimited San Miguel Watershed Coalition State of Colorado Division of Water Resources State of Colorado Division of Wildlife State of Colorado Water Conservation Board U.S. Forest Service 1 Organic Administration Act of 1897; Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976; and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. - 1 -