WSP00769

• File Number: 8210.766
• Description: Gunnison River General Publications - Correspondence - Reports - Etc
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 3/1/1993
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Scoping Report for the Gunnison River Contract - Analysis Notebook - Section II - Comments by Item Codes
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ison River Contract Scooine - SORTED Comments

Campbell's proposed legislation which would establish a Wild River, a Nat.ional Park, and a BLM
Wilderness Area,

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'sIERRA; p2, '2. (ISSUES, cant) 2) The analysis should thoroughly enumerate the
resource vaJues and the Congress' legislative mandates for resource protection of the Gunnison River.
The resource values include both those lisled in 1916 National Park Service Organic Act, which
established the purposes of the National Park System (of which the Black Canyon is a unit), and the
1964 Wilderness Act. A comparison of levels of protection afforded these resources under various
protection schemes should be incorporated inlo the analysis.

UGRWCD; p4,'1. 20, There is a need to clearly defioe the natura] environment tliat the
National Park Service is striving to create or protect in the Black Canyon: Pre~Gunn.isoD Tunnel, pre-
Aspinall, or post-Aspinall? Historic canyon conditions need to be fully described.

1. 04.
and an issue.

National Park Service (should) quantify water right early on - make this an alternative

2.1. 14.
2.1. 16.
2.1.15).

Why has National Park Service taken so long to quantify its rights?
How can this process proceed without this information? (reference No. 2.1.14 &

2.2. 06.
right.

Monument reserved water right is issue. Also address wilderness reserved water

2.3. . 15. How does this contract negotiation relate 10 Federal reserved water right in Black
Canyon Na.tional Monument and 10 the quantification of the rigbt. 'What is cost to values (i.e.,
recreation, trout, endangered fish) from this experiment?

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3. 13. Will National Park Service studies on water needs for the Monumenl be available
before the contract is signed or before the public comment period is over.

4. 13. In preliminary contract, p. 5, a 300 cfs minimum instream flow is mentioned.
National Park Service has reserVed right. The National Park Service should not settle for 300
minimum -- should be increased to maintain ecosystem. Better minimum in the summe.r would be
400 - 500, this would help mitigate canyon flash f1oods/sedimenl problems.

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4. 15. Reserved right: Consider right for both Monument (1933) and its wilderness area
(1976). Since Blue Mesa right is 1957, how will this affect water deliveries? Contract should better
define reserved rights seniority and purposes.

5.

02.

Federal reserved right (for the Monument) needs to be quantified soon.

5.

03.

More explanation needed on National Park Service reserved right. What is amount?

5.

27.

h. Contract should be written to quanlify Monument right.

CAMPBELL; p2, ~6. Fortunately, the exisling Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
bad a pre-existing federal reserve water right that is the second most senior water right holder in the
river. This makes it imperative to formulate a plan to protect the canyon's resources.

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