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<br />Summary <br />The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder forms the <br />basis for the instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staff's opinion <br />that the information contained in this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule <br />5i. <br /> <br />Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature <br />recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of <br />the natural environment" (see 37-92-102 (3) c.R.S.). The statute vests the CWCB with the <br />exclusive authority to appropriate and acquire in stream flow and natural lake level water rights. <br />In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the <br />statute directs the CWCB to request in stream flow recommendations from other state and federal <br />agencies. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor <br />Recreation (CDPOR) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommended this segment of <br />Williams Creek to the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Williams Creek is <br />being considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural <br />environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. <br /> <br />The CDOW is forwarding this stream flow recommendation to the CWCB to meet the State of <br />Colorado's policy "... that the wildlife and their environment are to be protected, preserved, <br />enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its <br />visitors ... and that, to carry out such program and policy, there shall be a continuous operation <br />of planning, acquisition, and development of wildlife habitats and facilities for wildlife-related <br />opportunities" (see 33-1-101 (1) c.R.S.). The CDOW Strategic Plan also states "Healthy aquatic <br />environments are essential to maintain healthy and viable fisheries, and critical for self- <br />sustaining populations. The CDOW desires to protect and enhance the quality and quantity of <br />aquatic habitats." The CDPOR is forwarding this stream flow recommendation to the CWCB to <br />meet the State of Colorado's policy"... that the natural, scenic, scientific, and outdoor <br />recreation areas of this state are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, <br />benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and visitors ... and that to carry out such <br />program and policy there shall be a continuous operation of acquisition, development, and <br />management of outdoor recreation lands, waters, and facilities" (see 33-10-101 (1) c.R.S.). <br /> <br />Williams Creek is approximately 5.3 miles long. It begins on the western side of Ragged <br />Mountain at an elevation of approximately 11400 feet and terminates in Paonia Reservoir near <br />the Town of Paonia at an elevation of approximately 6595 feet. Of the 0.95 mile segment <br />addressed by this report, approximately 100% of the segment, or 0.95 miles, is located on BLM <br />lands, while the remainder of the segment, 0 miles, is located on private lands. Williams Creek <br />is located within Gunnison County. The total drainage area of the river is approximately 4.0 <br />square miles. The Williams Creek generally flows in a southwesterly direction. <br /> <br />The subject of this report is a segment of the Williams Creek beginning at the BLM-Private <br />Land Boundary and extending downstream to Paonia Reservoir. The proposed segment is <br />located northeast of the Town of Paonia. The staff has received one recommendation for this <br />segment from the CDOW, CDPOR & BLM. The recommendation for this segment is discussed <br />below. <br /> <br />-2- <br />