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<br />OOlJ.!:d <br /> <br />August?,1998 <br /> <br />TO: Interested Parties <br /> <br />Enclosed is Colorado's draft Unified Watershed Assessment as discussed in the Clean Water <br />Action Plan. When the Clean Water Action Plan was released earlier this spring, the central <br />feature for accomplishing many of the action items was the development of a Unified <br />Watershed Assessment, where agencies and other entities would combine their data to create <br />a total look at individual watersheds, and determine if those watersheds were achieving the <br />goals for the aquatic resources. <br /> <br />Over the past few months, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division met <br />with a number of agencies and entities who have data, either for the State of Colorado at large, <br />or for lands they manage. Combined with the process WQCD used to develop their 1998 <br />303(d) list "Water Quality Limited Segments Still Requiring Total Maximum Daily Loads," <br />(3/24/98), we believe this draft assessment has a reasonably complete look at surface water <br />quality in Colorado, from the chemical constituent standpoint. On much of the federally or in <br />some instances, state managed land, we also believe we have a reasonably complete look at <br />the physical quality of the aquatic resource. that is, the fishery habitat and riparian area. <br /> <br />Where we do not have complete assessment of physical quality is in the eastern one-third to <br />one-half of the state. which is predominantly privately owned. Therefore, much of eastern <br />Colorado has been categorized as "4"; we simply do not have the public data to make a <br />determination as to the general category of the aquatic resource. We are open however, to <br />others providing data that would assist in determining if the eastern watersheds need <br />restoration of the aquatic resource. <br /> <br />This entire document is draft. We are open to comments and suggestions on each part. <br />Comments on the first draft are asked to be submitted in writing by September 9.1998 to <br />either: <br /> <br />Stephen F. Black, State Conservationist <br />USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service <br />655 Parfet Street. Room E200C <br />Lakewood, CO 80215 <br /> <br />J. David Holm, Director <br />Colorado Dept. of Public Health <br />and Environment <br />Water Quality Control Division <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80246 <br /> <br />There are two public meetings scheduled. The first is the State Technical Committee meeting <br />on August 26. 1998 at 9:00 a.m. in the 1st Floor West Conference Room, 655 Parfet Street. <br />Comments received at this meeting, and in writing by 9/9/98 will be considered in the final draft <br />of the Unified Watershed Assessment. <br /> <br />The second public meeting will be an informational hearing at the Water Quality Control <br />Commission on October 13.1998. at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South. where the final draft will <br />be presented. Comments received at the Commission. as well as written comments received <br />after 9/9/98 will be considered in the final version of the Unified Watershed Assessment. We <br />anticipate the final assessment to be complete by the end of October. <br /> <br />ell. Co <br />h,I(~ <br />I't.."W () '1 <br />"..;tL,J.....'j <br />Fo,.... r:Q,( <br />.......I.~I-~ <br />rr--., <br /> <br />roll"!, f? <br />~ ' <br />Lv ~<:.~ <br />