The Forest Service has begun the process of revising the Forest Plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

In the area of instream flow management, the revised Forest Plan will identify the water needed to meet present and future consumptive and instream water needs within GMUG National Forest boundaries. Once stream flow-related values and uses have been described, the Forest Service will establish a framework of possible management actions to ensure their sustainability in balance with off-Forest uses.

Forest Service participation in the Pathfinder Project demonstrates how public involvement can be used to explore common ground and narrow conflict in formulating a shared vision to guide future management on the National Forests.

GMUG Forest Management and Instream Flows

The GMUG Forest Service's goals for revision of its instream flow protection plans are as follows:

¨ Determine a standard for maintaining or restoring resources that are clearly dependent on flowing streams for long-term sustainability;
¨ Identify strategies and mechanisms needed to meet these standards, and include these in the revised Forest Plan; and,
¨ Classify watersheds or stream segments according to their suitability and availability for future water development.