Forest Service Management Options

Cooperative or Partnership Approach Options

CWCB’s Instream Flow Program Options

1. Inventory and consult with permittee on water rights, water uses, and permits.

11.  Assist Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and State Engineer in monitoring and protecting existing ISF rights on GMUG National Forests (NF)

21.  Pursue opportunities offered by CWCB ISF Program

2.  Negotiate permit conditions for instream flow purposes on new water development.

12.  Work with CWCB to recognize the NF land and resource management objectives and quantification methods for streams on the Forest may differ from the objectives and methods CWCB currently provides.

22.  Seek CWCB agreement to appropriate or acquire needed flows on NF lands.

3.  As a permit condition, limit diversions  to decreed amounts when needed, seasonally.

13.  Investigate voluntary re-operation alternatives with existing diversion permit holders to meet FS and permittee objectives.

23.  Encourage CWCB to file on USFS flow recommendations the year they are made.

4.  Implement channel and fish habitat improvements to compensate for lower flows when a determination has been made that such improvements have biologic merit.

14.  Seek voluntary agreement with new applicants to develop operational plans to meet FS and applicant’s objectives.

24.  Establish legal, shared property ownership with the CWCB for acquired ISF rights on NFS lands.

5. Consider other forest practices that influence stream flows, such as vegetation management.

15.  Consider new and expanded storage with participation by the USFS for instream flow purposes (which include the Forest Service appropriating or acquiring an interest in the water rights).

25.  Encourage CWCB to file on peak spring flows and shoulder flows under ISF Program to allow for recharge of groundwater and to maintain riparian and off-channel habitat.

6.  Use land and water acquisition programs and water right purchases to obtain water rights that could be converted to instream flow (ISF) rights.

16. Consider off-channel storage for later release.

26.  Encourage the State Legislature to expand the CWCB ISF program to include recreational, scenic, and aesthetic uses.

7.  Ensure that water rights acquired as part of an  USFS acquisition or exchange are incorporated into the Forest water right inventory.

17.  Provide State Engineer with documentation on water rights not being used.

27.  Identify stream segments currently limited by availability of water for ISF protection and improvement.

8.  Protect  water rights held  by USFS. 

18. Initiate educational program for water conservation and promote/facilitate delivery and application efficiencies.

9.  Expand USFS efforts to inventory and assess the aquatic and riparian resources on GMUG NF.

19. Establish ISF management objectives for watersheds on the GMUG NF.

10. Practice good watershed and streamside management to deliver sufficient quantity and quality of water to meet downstream and forest uses.

20. Work cooperatively with local governments to establish Recreational Instream Channel Diversion (RICD) on stream segment(s) located on NFS lands.