BOARD01961

• Board Meeting Date: 5/20/2002
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Deep Creek - Yampatika Ute Wilderness Bill
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

99 006

l07th Congress
Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATTVES
2d Session
107 416

DEEP CREEK-YAMPATIKA UTE WILDERNESS ACT

April 23, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the
Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following R E P 0 R T
together with

DISSENTING VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 2963]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources,
the Deep Creek Wilderness Area,
report favorably thereon with an
pass.
The amendment is as follows:

to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2963)to establish
and for other purposes, having considered the same,
amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the

'Deep Creek-Yampatika Ute Wilderness Act".

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:

(1) Certain areas located in the White River National Forest and the Bureau of
Land Management, Glenwood Springs Resource Area, in Colorado along Deep Creek should be
protected and enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations,
including the areas making up the rugged and remote limestone gorge formed by Deep
Creek on the White River Plateau of the White River National Forest in Garfield and
Eagle Counties, Colorado, which have wilderness values and offer unique and valuable
scenic, geological, scientific, and recreational opportunities.

(2) The unique high elevation riparian areas and natural and wildlife
components, enhanced by the rural western setting of the area, provide extensive
opportunities for primitive recreational activities, are publicly used for hiking, cave
exploration, and solitude, and are worthy of additional protection as a wilderness
area.

(3) Deep Creek carves a rugged and remote limestone gorge, forming a dramatic
pristine canyon over 2,500 feet deep and 13 miles long.
(4) The limestone strata have created ideal conditions for the formation of
caves, many of which are among Colorado's most outstanding.
(5) There are both absolute and conditional decreed water rights appertaining to
waters upstream and downstream from the Wilderness Area.
These rights are private property rights and are entitled to protection.
(6) It is possible to provide for proper management and protection of the
wilderness values of the Wilderness Area in ways that provide for the reasonable
development of the upstream and adjacent water rights.
(7) Out of respect for the native Ute people who frequented the area near
Trappers Lake and the Deep Creek headwaters for centuries, the Wilderness Area shall be

Colorado Water Conservation Board 2
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning