BOARD02103

• Board Meeting Date: 3/26/2001
• Description: ISF Section - Proposed ISF Appropriation 2002 Work Plan Priorities
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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David Nickum
Executive Director
Colorado Trout Unlimited

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:February 21, 2001

Mr, Dan Merriman
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 ,Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, CO 80203
Via Fax; 303.866-4474

Dear Dan:

On behalf of Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) and our more than 7,900 members statewide, I am
writing to request the Colorado Water Conservation Board's collflideration far a new instream
flow appropriation on the South Fork ofth~ South Platt!' River as partofits 2002 filings.

CTU is currently warkini with II private landowner, Mr, Bill Gordon, to improve stream habitat
on the South Fork throush his property, the Sweetwater Ranch, We believe a CWCB
appropriation on the South Fork will be an important step in protecting the investment we and
Mr, Gordon are making in this fishery. We have previously worked to improve habitat on the
stre;un $cgments upstream of Mr, Gordon's ranch, as well (on the Knight-Imler property).

The South Fork is II valuable public fishery. It flows through two State Wildlife Areas (63 Ranch
and Knight-Imler). and the stretch on Mr, GordOl\'s p~operty is also open to public fishing under II
lease agreement with the Division of Wildlife, The s~gment we propose for a new appropriation
is located upstream of Antero Reservoir and offexs spawning and migration habitat for fish '
nmni~ out of Antero as well as supporting a residen~ trout population.

To assist the Board in its consideration, we asked Millcr Ecological Consultants (MEC) to
develop flow recommendations for the South Fork using the state's R2CROSS methOdology and
assess water availability; We are awaiting their final'report and will submit their findings and the
data on which they are based as soon as possible, The cross sections used by MEC are on the
Sweetwater Ranch, but we believe the channel thereiis very similar to that found from Anteto
Reservoir upstream. to the point where US Highway:285 crosses the South Fork. Not far above
that point. the gradient of the stream increases and iq; character changes, so the data MEC has
prepared would likely not provide a good basis for tin appropriation upstream of US 285,

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with you to protect this
important stream. through a CWCB instream flow appropriation,

Sincerely,

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David Nickum

bout Unlimited: AlflfI,/ca's Lfllldlnl Colt/w;lt(ff P1sho,ltIS CONSfI1'VatWll O,ganiQ1t/oH
, Colorado Office; 1966 13 Sueel"Suite LL60, Boulder, CO 80302
PHONE: ('303) 440-2937 FAX: (303)!440-7933 EMAlL: dniclaun@lU,org

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