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<br />Addendum Agenda Item - 7b <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Ouray <br />County <br />Commissioners <br /> <br /> <br />f T I - <br /></'b- c <br />/ <br /> <br />FRANK HODSOll <br />JOE MATTlVI <br />ALAN STAEHLE <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />541 4th Street. P.O. Bin C . Ouray. Colorado 81427 . 970.325.7320 325-4961 . Fax 970.325.0452 <br /> <br />Ir~C <br /> <br />NOI/ ! 'l:lv~D <br /> <br />Co Co'o,; 0 1.99,0 <br />r/Sen!.rto ~ (1 <br />.<tv"";:,,, <br />"'<1 <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />721 Centennial Building <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />November 8th, 1998 <br /> <br />Ref Intent to Appropriate Instream Flow Water Rights: <br />Uncompahgre River and Dallas Creek in Ouray County <br /> <br />Dear Board Members, <br />I attended the presentation that was made at Ridgway State Park regarding the intent to <br />consider appropriation of water as described in your Notice dated October 5th, 1998. I was <br />impressed with the objective scientific basis used by your staff to determine the availability and <br />suitability of filing for such water rights. I agree with your staff that an appropriate basis exists <br />to file for the rights as stated. There is one reservation however that should be passed along in <br />case those affected do not comment independently. <br />The reservation brought up at the Ridgway hearing is that by placing additional demand <br />on the respective river systems it may cause a burden on already struggling ranch operations that <br />use irrigation methods which are somewhat inefficient as currently configured. Because the <br />ranches are so close to the source of water, they have in some cases developed irrigation habits <br />that utilize excessive water and additional demand for water will require additional effort and <br />expenditure to properly limit existing use. <br />This concern may not sound legitimate on the face of it but as we watch our small and <br />sometimes not so small agricultural operations try to contend with an onslaught of challenges in <br />our rapidly growing County it is just one more factor to have to deal with. Our ranches are an <br />important part of our history and are certainly responsible for the attractive appearance of green <br />valleys as one drives into our County. We need to use care in any imposition that pushes them <br />toward simply giving up and selling out. Please give this factor some consideration. Perhaps <br />there is some form of mitigation that could lessen the burden when it occurs. <br />Otherwise it is the position of the Ouray Board of County Commissioners that flow <br />maintenance is important in both the Uncompahgre and Dallas river/stream systems and we <br />support the appropriation of water for that purpose. <br /> <br />'X-.~ <br /> <br />Alan Staehle, <br />Chairman, Ouray BOCC <br />