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<br />Exchange Agreement were concerned that the NPS also consider protecting flatwater resources <br />and values of Curecanti. The NPCA, Congressman Campbell, Sierra Club, and Montrose <br />participants supported including as a pUlpose for NPS involvement to contract for water to <br />protect the Black Canyon's wilderness area (established in 1976) and the proposed Wild River <br />designation, <br /> <br />Congressman Campbell noted: "Fortunately, the existing Black Canyon of the Gunnison <br />National Monument had a pre-existing Federal reserved water right that is the second most <br />senior water right holder in the river." The CRWCD suggested that the NPS must state its <br />intent regarding administration of the right, and quantify the impacts of such administration on <br />specific public and private water rights and uses upstream and downstream. The CWCB wants <br />the contract processes to result in resolution of quantification issues. Gunnison meeting <br />participants, and the CRWCD questioned why the NPS has taken so long to quantify its 1933 <br />right, if they will release information gathered on quantification, and how this process can <br />proceed without this information. They suggest that quantification should occur soon. The City <br />of Colorado Springs wrote: "it appears premature to proceed with this contract before the <br />Federal reserved water right for the Black Canyon is adjudicated and the need for the contract ' <br />is finall y determined. " <br /> <br />Item 4. <br /> <br />Gunnison Gorge Resources - BLM involvement is needed to ensure protection <br />of existing recreational and natural resources and proposed designations of the <br />Gunnison Gorge. <br /> <br />Refer to: Gunnison meetings; the City of Colorado Springs; the NPCA; the Sierra Club; <br />UGRWCD. (5 comments) <br /> <br />As mentioned in the Public Information Packet and the Preliminary Working Draft for a water <br />contract, the BLM is participating in contract negotiations (as a concurring party to the contract) <br />and is a cooperating agency in the NEPA compliance process. At a Gunnison meeting, it was <br />suggested that the contract look at opportunities to protect and improve the ecosystem of the <br />Gunnison Gorge (which is immediately downstream of the Black Canyon) through a more natural <br />condition of the river. The NPCA wrote that even though the BLM claims no reserved water <br />right, it is required under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to protect environmental <br />and recreational values of the Gunnison Gorge. The NPCA and the Sierra Club suggested that <br />the existing trout fishery and whitewater boating values of the Gunnison Gorge should be <br />protected, and that the analysis should address resource values and associated reserved rights that <br />would be included in Congressman Campbell's proposed legislation to establish a Wild River <br />and BLM Wilderness Area. In his second letter, Mr. Greeno suggested that the water right for <br />the wild and scenic river should be dated from October 2, 1979. They noted this would <br />correspond with the date that the Gunnison Gorge segment was designated as a study river, and <br />would give the federal right priority over AB Lateral. The City of Colorado Springs questioned <br />how future designations for Wild and Scenic River or Wilderness would affect or correlate with <br />contract provisions. <br /> <br />15 <br /> <br />o 0 1 ~ 1- " <br />I d;l <br />