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<br />'/ Ira ffy C ()"tcrLl f/L (J ,/2J )61
<br />
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<br />Scenic
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<br />RG River
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<br />By TERESA L. BENNS
<br />SAGUACHE - Rio Grande Water,
<br />Conservation director Ralph Curtis pre-
<br />sented' a I\ew request for Rio Gran.de
<br />orId Scenic River designation to the '
<br />ard of County Commissioners here
<br />, Tuesday, asking commissioners to send
<br />letters of Silpport to Valley lawmakers
<br />in Washington to encourage the bill's
<br />introduction. . ,
<br />A previous attempt to introduce the
<br />bill was put on hold until Curtis and '
<br />fellow sponsors could demonstrate local
<br />, , support for the designation. ,
<br />The purp'ose of the legislation, CUrtis,
<br />explained, is to preserve and restore tb.e
<br />:..' unique. scientific, scenic educational arid
<br />en~onmental values of the river. This .
<br />wouIl:l include landforms, cultural sites
<br />~ 'habi4ts, and various wildIife'species.
<br />',' ""TIierearepetroglyphsandthesbuthC'- ,
<br />west 'willow flycatcher (an endangered, '
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<br />spec~es] to consider," Curtis said. "Our intent is to restore ~nd
<br />repaIr. We need more willows, cottonwoods and Ii pro.active stance
<br />for endangered species."
<br />
<br />A cooperative effort amo?-g members.oflocal government, private
<br />property owners, and agnculture and environmental groups wili
<br />. necessary to get the bill off the ground, Curtis emphasized. '
<br />Thearea propo~ed for J?rotection spans the southern boundary of
<br />the Alamosa NatIOnal Wildlife Refuge to the ColoradolNew Mexico
<br />state line. Approximately 33.3 miles.. The protected,corridor would
<br />be 1/2 mile wide with 1/4 mile from the center-line of the river,on
<br />both east and: west sides. About 2,771 acres of BLM-inanaged land
<br />0:' the west SIde and 7,885 acres of private land both sides 'of the
<br />r~ver. The area proposed for protection is located downstream on the
<br />rIVer" well removed from significant, longstanding water,uses. "
<br />A mne.member commission would assist federal. State and local
<br />autho:it~es in imJ?lementing a resource.management plan. The
<br />commIssIon would Include wo a BLM officiid and a representative of
<br />the V,S fish and Wildlife Service at the Alamosa National Wildlife
<br />J' Refuge, two state agency officials, one each from' the Colorado
<br />wildlife commission' and the Division Engineer of the Colorado
<br />, Division ofW ilter Resources, responsible for the Rio' Grande Basin'
<br />a Rio Grande Water Conservation District representative, two locai
<br />, " appointees frc>m non-governmental, agricultural interests, and two:
<br />appointees representing non-profit, non-governmental environmen. "
<br />tal interests., . , ,
<br />Non-federal commission members will 'be recommended by ,the' . ,"
<br />Governor .of Colorado for appointment by the Secretary of the
<br />Interior; , ' ' , ' .
<br />A manageme~t plan consistent with management plan.. adopted .
<br />by the BLM director for adjacent properties ,in Colorado and NeW
<br />Mexico will be developed within two years of the leg;slatioJ;l's '
<br />. enflctment...A GO-~puhlic..~ re1ft'eVrPer10a'"W"....u. U,"" ....I,~.l'"' ~,_.
<br />prior to implementation of the plan. ' '., ,
<br />The State of Colorado's right to establish": minimum stream flow
<br />will be written into the legislation. Public land affected by the'
<br />legIslation would not b,e subject to federal reserve water rights for:
<br />any purpose. No private land will be condemned for the designation, '
<br />and private land owners will be included in the 'plan only if they;
<br />submit written acceptance. , '
<br />Provisions will be written into the plan to protect the free-flowing
<br />nature of the area's water, in order to protect the environment and .
<br />fulfill obligations under the Rio Grande River Compact.
<br />"It's not the best of two worlds, but it's the lesser of two evils," '
<br />Curtis said. "If we get the legislation passed, we won't hav~ to worry'
<br />about a federal reserve water right. We11 only have to worry about
<br />the push for a minimum stream flow, but that's a very junior water
<br />right." , "
<br />The BOCC agreed to support the designatIon drive.
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