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., <br /> <br />Would it be possible to get all of these various agencies to <br />cooperate in a joint venture of this type? The benefits are <br />considerable. The danger of severe flooding can be removed from <br />the Uncompahgre Valley between Ouray and Ridgway. A sterile and <br />unnatural deposit of gravel which now represents an eyesore in <br />the heart of an area of otherwise spectacular natural beauty can <br />be eliminated, permitting the restoration of natural conditions <br />to a formerly normal, meandering floodplain river. Both riparian <br />habitat and irrigated farmland located downstream can be protec- <br />ted from damage. Existing and future gravel operators in the <br />area can continue to operate profitably, albeit in a cooperative, <br />Gather than an all-out competitive, manner. <br />The only potential drawback to this plan would be restric- <br />tions placed on owners of existing gravel deposits in the area, <br />who would not be free to use their land as they wished. But it <br />has long been demonstrated, through the establishment of zoning <br />regulations, community planning efforts, and other laws and <br />regional agencies, that people are willing to consider the bene- <br />fits to the community in authorizing private facilities, and at <br />times to let those community benefits outweigh private desires. <br />The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the logical <br />agency to oversee a cooperative effort of this type. It could <br />coordinate the efforts of all the other agencies, as well as all <br />the private entities, involved. And if such an effort were to <br />prove successful, it could serve as a model for future projects <br />of similar type, not only in Colorado but alsewhere as well. <br />cc:Town of Ouray <br />Ouray County Commissioners <br />Western Gravel, Inc. <br />Thomas Schreiner <br />Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />Steve McCall <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br />Ken Jacobson <br />U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <br />Perry D. Olson <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />Respectfully, <br />James R. Guadagno, Ph.D., P.E. <br />P. O. Box 208 <br />Paonia, CO 81428 <br />James Scherer <br />Environmental Protection Agency <br />Kenneth R. Wright <br />Wright Water Engineers <br />Daniel Williams <br />House Committee on Agriculture, <br />Livestock, and Natural Resour- <br />ces <br />Tilman Bishop <br />Senate Committee on Agriculture, <br />Natural Resources, and Energy <br />Lawrence Mosher <br />High Country News <br />