BOARD01727

• Board Meeting Date: 7/23/2002
• Description: ISF Section - Instream Flow Appropriations
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

June 28,2002

Harold Miske!, Chair
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Sherman Street, 7th Fl<ror
Denver; CO 80203

ReI Notice to Contest StalTRecommendations for instream flows on Spring Creek, a
tributary to the North Fork of the Gunnison River, in Water Division 4.
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Dear Ch8irmanMiskel:

Trout Unlimited (TU), a party in the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
administrative proceedings concerning staff recommendations :(or instream flows on Spring
Creek, supports the CWCB Staff(Staft) recommendation for ari extension of these proceedings
into the 2003 calendar year.

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Since TUfiled its notice to contest in March, we have been en8!lged in discussions with Staff
and the United States Forest Service (USFS) concerning the prQtection of this unique, spring-fed .
water resource.. ;Base4: ~>n thes~discussions, we believe that the. best way to proceed in this
matter is to cOllectaddlt~o!18.Cda.ta. The USFS and Staff currendy are drafting further study plans
for the collectiotl of these. data.
. . . " ..
. . .

We believe that an extension of these proceedings will allow all involved to assess more
thoroughly the resource protection issues for the unique resourc,es of Spring Creek. Provided
that the CWCB maintains its priority date during the period of tile extension;. the extenSion also
will not prejudice the CWCB-when it does eventually apply for'a specific amount. We also hope
that an extension will allow us to engage in negotiations to resolve our concerns informaliy.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 303-440-2937, x12, or TU's
. . 1 , . .
counselin this matter, Bart Miller of the Land 8:nd Water Fund, 'at 303-444-1188, x219. .

Sincerely;

.~.~..

.. .
David Nickum, Executive Director
, . .
Colorado Trout Unlimited

cc:

Dan Merriman, CWCB
Randy Brame(, USFS.
Biut Miller, LA W Fund

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