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<br />vicinity of Minturn (near the confluence with Gore Creek west of Vail) downstream to Dotsero and of the <br />Colorado River from Dotsero to the Garfield County line. On Oct. 17, CWCB staff met with Eagle County <br />staff to review the study reach and plan the scope of work for the floodplain study. e <br /> <br />Gunnison River Basin Issues <br /> <br />GMUG Meetings: The Colorado Water Conservation Board staff continues to meet with U.S. Forest <br />Service (USFS) staff and the GMUG steering committee to 'assist in the development of a forest plan for the <br />GMUG national forests, The purpose of the GMUG steeririg committee is to identify instream flow needs <br />for the streams of the GMUG national forests and to identifY the appropriate level of protection needed to <br />meet USFS resource management objectives in balance with off-forest demands and uses. The USFS <br />anticipates that the outcome of this process will result in increased certainty, better decisions, and less <br />conflict concerning water management. The effort is currently focusing on Willow Creek, a tributary of the <br />Taylor River above Taylor Park Reservoir, as a pilot watershed. <br /> <br />Gunnison County Mapping and Flood Hydrology Analysis: The CWCB is assisting Gunnison County <br />with the preparation of topographic mapping for use in flo~dplain mapping for several stream corridors in <br />the county with $50,000 in funding. On Oct. 22, mapping contractors will submit proposals to Gunnison <br />County for mapping along the Slate River/East River/Gunnison River corridor between Crested Butte and <br />Gunnison, Ohio Creek northwest of Gunnison, Tomichi Creek upstream of Gunnison, and the Crystal River <br />in the vicinity of Marble. Meanwhile work is underway on flood hydrology analyses for the same stream <br />reaches. The CWCB arranged for the USCE to prepare thll hydrology analyses, and the USCE, in turn, hired <br />a consulting firm from Breckenridge to conduct the engineering work. Hopefully, in a year hydraulic <br />analyses will begin, developing floodplain mapping from ~he topographic information and the hydrologic <br />information. <br /> <br /> <br />Platte Rivel' Basin Issues _ <br /> <br />Platte River Cooperative Agreement: Progress continUeS to be made on developing an Endangered SpeCle. <br />Program under the Platte River Cooperative Agreement. The focus ofthe last few months has been on <br />channel morphology issues in critical habitat as they telate to the habitat requirements ofthe Whooping <br />Crane, Piping Plover, and Least Tern. <br /> <br />The three states (Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming) hired Parsons Engineering to assist us in assessing the <br />scientific validity of many of the river channel issues rais~d by the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). <br />In general, the states believe that there is not sufficient and definitive information on the processes that shape <br />the Platte River Channel. We believe that an adequate ul1derstanding of these processes is needed before one <br />attempts to alter the processes to. "shape" the river channel and many believe that mechanical techniques <br />(earth moving equipment) are more viable and easier to control than the so called "natural processes." All <br />parties are hopeful that we will be able to assemble a set pf investigations, including both research and <br />habitat restoration activities that will address the USFW~'s concerns. These investigations would then be <br />incorporated into the proposed Platte River Program. <br /> <br />Platte River Reconnaissance/Feasibility Study: Over t~e last month CWCB staff has had several <br />conversation with representatives of the Ground Water Appropriators ofthe South Platte (GASP). GASP <br />indicated that they would like to pursue the development of a reservoir site for use as a more permanent <br />water supply for their shareholders. CWCB staff is working with GASP to determine how we can most <br />efficiently address GASP needs and at the same time ensure that an appropriate level of coordinated river <br />operations is in place, The Board will be briefed on this! issue in more detail over the next several months as <br />more information is developed. <br /> <br />Request for Consultation by the WQCD. Prompted by the City of Thornton that has alleged that ,thA <br />permit for Littleton/Englewood wastewater treatment p~ant (Bi-City WWTP) results in material injury to it'" <br />water rights, the Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) has requested consultation from the CWCB and <br /> <br />15 <br />