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<br /> <br />N <br /> <br /> <br />-- <br />S <br /> <br />,,", <br /> <br />U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR <br /> <br />F'IlrS':__ _r...L_ CO___._...._. <br />,""UU..t:: UJ. LOt oc\';.~"cuJ <br />For Immediate Release: April 2, 2003 <br /> <br />TMtpnnr' Tnlm Wnaht ?O?-?OR-/i41/i <br />,........~_..~...... ..~A__ "~..cr--, --- - -. <br />Colorado: Dawn Taylor, 303-866-3135 <br /> <br />Interior Department Announces Major Agreement <br />for Gunnison River Water in Colorado <br /> <br />DENVER -- The Interior Department announced today that an agreement has been reached with the State <br />of Colorado on a long-standing dispute involving management of water from the Gunnison River that <br />flows through the Black Canyon of the Gmmison National Park. The agreement in principle was <br />announced during a signing ceremony with Commissioner of the Bureau ofRec1amation John Keys, Deputy <br />Director ofthe National Park Service Randy Jones, Director of Colorado's Department of Natural <br />Resources, Greg Walcher and Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar. <br /> <br />When implemented by the Colorado water court, the agreement worked out between the Interior <br />Department's National Park Service, the Bureau ofRec1amation and the State of Colorado will resolve a <br />water rights dispute that has persisted for decades, The two governments believe that the today's <br />agreement demonstrates how the federal government and the state, working together in a cooperative <br />manner, can properly manage and protect the nation's natural resources, including parks and monuments, <br /> <br />Under the agreement, Black Canyon ofthe Gmmison National Park has reserved water right under federal <br />law and also water rights under Colorado law for flood flows that occur during the spring months in wet <br />years. The agreement establishes a reserved right for base flows of 300 cubic feet per second at the park <br />in order to maintain the flow of water through the canyon. The agreement also provides that the park has a <br />water right under Colorado law for the flood flows that scour the canyon to prevent buildup of sediment <br />and vegetation, The park's right for the flood flows is subject only to rights that have already been <br />acquired either by the federal government or by private and public water users under Colorado law. <br /> <br />"This combination of federal right and state right provides excellent protection for the park," Jones said. <br />"We are especially appreciative of the excellent cooperation we have received from the State of <br />Colorado," <br /> <br />The federal government is not claiming a right to these flood flows under federal law; instead, it is <br />claiming the right to the flood flows in accordance with Colorado laws and in consultation with and <br />subject to approval by Colorado water rights authorities. <br /> <br />"This agreement is great for Interior, great for the park, great for the fanners and great for the people of <br />Colorado," Keys said. "It's an excellent example of Secretary Norton's 'Four C's" at work to serve the <br />interest of all the people." The Four C's are consultation, cooperation and communication- all in the <br />service of conservation. <br /> <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />002350 <br />