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<br />(jg) <br /> <br /> <br />WATER QUALITY I QUANTITY COMMITTEE (QQ) <br /> <br />Post Offjce Box 2308 . Silverthorne, Cororado 80498 <br />970-468-0295 . Fax 970-468-1208 . emaiJ: qqwater@Colorado.net <br /> <br />February 9, 2004 <br /> <br />Mr~ Russell George, Executive Director <br />Colorado Department of Natural Resources <br />13 13 Sherman Street, Room 718 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />i~ L~) j. . luJ4 <br /> <br />OCIG;~d(j ~I!f~::~~~ CT~:"";~r~'\.;':.Ji! ~:(. :'/~ <br /> <br />Mr. Rod Kuharich, Director <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 .S11crlnan, Suite 721 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />Re: NWCCOG Comments on Statewide Water Supply Initiative ("SWSl'J <br /> <br />Dear Director George and Mr. Kuharich: <br /> <br />Northwest Colorado Council of Governments through its Water Quality and Quantity <br />Committee (QQ) has actively participated in SWSI since its inception. QQ's involvement has <br />included participation in development of legislation, education of local government members, <br />active solicitation Basin Roundtable members, participation in Colorado River Basin Roundtable <br />meetings, and providing requested studies and other information to SWSI contractors and staff. <br /> <br />SWSI was discussed at QQ's January 28, 2004 Board meeting. Four members of the <br />Colorado Basin Roundtable were present for discussions; two additional Roundtable members <br />are on the QQ Board and have been part of follow up conversations. As a result of these <br />discussions, I have been directed to convey to you the following concerns regarding SWSI: <br /> <br />.1. In-stream DemandsOl The SWSI process must account for realistic in-stream demands <br />for recreational, municipal and environmental uses. Currently, SWSI only considers CWCB in- <br />stream water rights, and recreational in-channel diversion water rights in 'projecting in-stream <br />flow demands. Much of the economy of the headwater communities derives from benefits <br />associated with water in the streams. <br /> <br />We have suggested "criteria for and documentation of these needs to SWSI which include: 1) <br />recreational needs quantified in the Upper Colorado River Project, 2) Gold Medal fishery <br />designation, 3) presence of native fish populations, 4) Colorado Department of Wildlife's <br />R2Cross findings for flow needs where different from final CWCB filings, 4) Colorado Water <br />Trust maps providing stream reaches in the Colorado River basin with critical stream flow needs, <br />5) rivers and streams proposed for Wild and Scenic designation within the White River National <br />Forest, 6) minimum flows needed to satisfY wastewater permitting requirements on specific <br />streams, 7) studies with information on envirol1111ental and recreational flows on the Fryingpan <br />River below Ruedi Reservoir, and 8) studies documenting the economic value of angling and <br />