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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Instream Flow Program is supposed to "correlate the activities of mankind with the <br />need to protect the environment. " Peter is ignoring the mandate. If the fish need the <br />water, then water users need to increase their use of groundwater supplies. If this <br />increases the cost of water development, so be it. Growth must pay its own way and not <br />destroy the environment in the process. <br /> <br />The legislature paid good money for the technical studies of the water supply in the South <br />Platte and Denver aquifers. It is irresponsible to continue to pursue transbasin water at the <br />expense of aquatic ecosystems and ignore the water under their noses. Chips Berry is <br />being Chicken Little to suggest the Endangered Species Act "may 'shut off the flows to <br />their [his customers'] faucets." The mandate of the ESA simply means we must modify <br />our institutional behavior to accommodate the I).eeds of our natural world. In the case of <br />Front Rimge water users, this requires more flexibility to increase conservation and more <br />cooperation and coordination among water providers. <br /> <br />In making the application, the Board presented evidence that there is a natural <br />environment present and the instream lows would help to protect that environment. The <br />science is there. Further, there is economic value in healthy ecosystems. 'The Board has a <br />moral obligation to continue to pursue these filings. The continued pursuit of the instream <br />flow filings is critical to maintain the confidence of the citizens of Colorado that our <br />government is committed to environmental protection, <br /> <br />Sincerely, ' <br /> <br />, , :&A.L-~ <br />~v;~I:Zer <br /> <br />High Country Citizens' Alliance, Board member <br />Sierra Club, Rocky Mountain Chapter <br />, Water Resources Committee, Chair <br />