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Show Costs of Trout Stream Losses, continued Moreover, the Bureau has apparently accepted mitigation of stream loss in the form of fish hatchery replacement, only, making no attempt to place an economic value on these lost streams and their tributaries (for natural spawning). As indicated in the attached April 5, 19 78 letter, this Administration as well as the Nixon Administration have stated that adequate instream flows will be addressed. The Carter Administration V/ater Policy requires an estimation of the benefits from instream flows. Federal agencies are required to avoid neglecting river based recreation. In July 12 Memorandums to his Administration staffs, the President directed that "Federal agencies shall improve, where possible, operation and maintenance of existing water resources projects to protect instream uses". In a 19 7 3 News Release of then Secretary of Interior, Rogers Morton, the promise was made that alterations would be made in the Bonneville Unit to provide for instream flows adequate to protect stream resources. In view of the fact that water studies of both Utah State University and the University of Utah as well as those of County Attorney VanDam state that there is sufficient water available both in Salt Lake County and in the State for all growth and development needs of the State, at least until the year 2,000, serious questions are raised as to why instream flows have not been addressed and resolved as requested these many years by responsible Agencies managing the resource. The obligation to do this is further emphasized in the Presidential Memorandums of July 12, 1978, where it is stated "For existing water resources legislation that now lacks provision for maintaining instream flow, and where committments and economic feasibility permit, Federal agencies working in cooperation with the States, shall develop legis--- lative amendments to correct this situation". A deadline for this requirement is proposed by the President to fulfill this need. We submit that action on the Bonneville Unit stream resources is now mandatory. Provide the stream flows * or prove publicly that this is impossible. Which course will be taken? NOTE: Inasmuch as adequate instream flows have not been addressed in the draft Uintah Unit of the CUP, either, the flows for the Uintah and Whiterocks Rivers also must be provided. *Quantification of stream flows which protect the riparian ecosystems as well as sustain self-productive fisheries should be determined outside the Bureau of Reclamation, i.e. the Fish S Wildlife Service Instream Flow Group, Ft. Collins, Colorado. Existing instream flow recommendations of Fish S Wildlife Service, 4 8,50 0 a f annually, may not be definitive today. |
