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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2. INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />For a number of years, individuals and organizations in Fort 'Coll ins have <br />speculated about the fishery potential 'of theCache'LaPoudre-Riveras it <br />flows through Fort Collins and abou~ m~asures that could beqtaken to <br />realize that potential. The Compreh~ns i vePl an of the City of Fort <br />Coll ins, adopted by the City Counci l! in August of 1977 , recommends "efforts <br />to reclaim the Poudre River as auseful, beautiful ;andac'cessible <br />recreation area" and "water supply ~6nagement that will maintain flow in <br />the ri ver through the city." In January 1978, the Larimer-l.Je 1 d Regi ona 1 <br />(ouncil of Governments published an analysis of in-stream flow requirements <br />for a fishery in the Poudre and developed alternatives for providing ,those . <br />flows. The Federal Flood Insurance program" thedeve 1 opm'entofrecreat ion" <br />trails, and the construction of parl<s'adj acent to 'the'r; ver have ".' " <br />contributed to a renewed interest. In :1982, the Poudre'Area'Riv~r cdfic~pt ' <br />Study (PARC) further examined theopportun iti es and constraints in the <br />river corridor and made recommendatiQns for preservation of ecologically <br />sensitive areas as well as revitalizition.' : ' - , ' <br /> <br />More recently, the community has re-'asserted its interest in the fishery <br />and recreation potential of the Poudre: In 1985, the PoudreRiver Trust <br />spearheaded development of a Land Use Pol icy Pl an for the Downtown Ri ver ' <br />Corridor which was adopted as anelenient of the City"sComprehensivePlan <br />by City Council in February of 1986. : The CityCounCi-l reiterated 'its . ' <br />commitment to pursuing the enhanceme'~t of the River in February byadopting <br />a resolution in support of H. R.435Q, an amendment to the Wild and Scenic <br />Rivers Act. The Act protected portidns of the upper Poudre and authorized <br />a study of the recreation potential of the Poudre River through Fort <br />Collins to the Larimer-Weld County line. These actions were supported by a <br />number of community groups. In March of 1986, the Water and Wastewater <br />Utility outlined some alternatives far providing in-stream'flowsin the <br />River utilizing savings that may be ~ealized in future wastewater treatment <br />costs from the impacts of dilution w~ter on discharge permit limitations. <br />The Fort Collins Water Board requeste~ that staff continue investigations <br />into the concept. As a part of that effort, the City has filed an <br />appl ication in Water Court for 1986 r;ights to 55 cubic feet per second of <br />water to dedicate to the project as a beginning in providing the necessary <br />flows. ' <br /> <br />During 1986, a number of meetings occurred with representatives of the City <br />of Fort Coll ins, the Rocky Mountain F~ycasters(Trout Unl imited), and the <br />Poudre River Trust to develop an apprbach to evaluating the fishery <br />potential of the Poudre and a plan to: enhance that potential. Input in~o <br />developing an approach was received from the Colorado Division of Wildl1fe, <br />the U. S. Forest Service, the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, the <br />National Ecology Center of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a . <br />number of other individuals and organizations. Dr. Kurt Fausch, Fishe~les <br />Biologist at Colorado State University, utilized this input in ~eVel?p1ng.a <br />preliminary proposal which has been the basis for the plan outl1ned 1n th1s <br />document. A separate proposal dealing with similar issues was reque~ted of <br />Mr. Dave Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology!Consultants, and has also prov1ded <br />insight into the issues involved. ' <br /> <br />2 <br />