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<br />':;:'''~'..i . <br />" <br /> <br />To: John A.C. Davey, Chairman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Shemlan SI. <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />.. ".. <br />_:.,'i'. <br /> <br />December 9, 1998 <br /> <br />Dear Sir, <br /> <br />;''\o~ ,,~ <br /> <br />Tennessee Creek is fabulous spring-creek type ofhabilal whieh supports a subslanlial <br />wetland in the upper Arkansas River watershed. This creek supports good populations of <br />wild brown and brook trout which attain sizcs 10 17". These fish spawn in the creek and <br />can he readily seen if you walk the creek in October-November on the BLM stretch <br />directly downstream of the Puehlo Water Works land. <br /> <br />Tennessee Creek also supports substantial populations of resident and migratoty <br />waterfowl. Resident mallards and teal nest there each spring and ducks hide in the iee <br />free areas in the fall and carly winter below the springs which flow into the creek. These <br />springs create large areas of algae which creates one aspect of the spring creek quality of <br />Tennessee Creek. <br /> <br />Tennessee Creek also has history behind it. Ernie Schweibert, in one of the most famous <br />fly fishing works, "Matching the Hatch", explains thoroughly the diverse mayny <br />populations which exist in the Leadville Junction area. Leadville lunction is I 1/2 miles <br />downstream of the public land which I am allowed to fish and hunt. It is the confluence <br />of the East Fork of the Arkansas River and Tennessee Creek. He speaks about catching <br />the same size trout which I have experienced. <br /> <br />Places like this are special and need to be preserved! TetUlessee Creek and the whole <br />upper Arkansas River system would be put severely affected if Tennessee Creek were to <br />dty up. All the spawning fish which travel up Tennessee Creek would be forced to <br />migrate up the F.ast Fork of the Arkansas River and that would lax that ecosystem and <br />hurt populations of wild fish. Also, natural waterfowl habitats at high elevations are few <br />and far between. Drying up this wetland would be a tragedy. indeed! <br /> <br />The only way to protect this habitat is to have an instream flow right! <br /> <br />Please allow this to happen. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />f& <br /> <br />Pal Chant <br />121 County Rd. #10 <br />Leadville, CO 80461 <br />