U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
| Contacts: | Mike Blakeman, Public Affairs (719) 852-6212 |
BLM seeks comments on Alamosa River Analysis (05-22-12)
CAPULIN - The San Luis Valley Field Office is seeking comments on a draft environmental analysis concerning the acquisition of water rights to sustain instream flows in the Alamosa River.
The Bureau of Land Management would not purchase or hold the water rights. If the proposed project is approved, the Alamosa River Keeper would purchase the water rights from willing sellers and transfer them to the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Instream Flow Program.
The BLM is conducting the analysis since funds to purchase the water rights would come from the federal government. The State of Colorado and the United States recovered $5 million for natural resource damages caused by the release of hazardous substances from the Summitville Mine site. A portion of these funds would be used for the proposed acquisition of water rights.
Terrace Irrigation Company would manage the water rights to maintain instream flows in the Alamosa River. Potential benefits of the project include recharging aquifers, which would benefit well owners and a variety of native plants and wildlife; improving habitat for a diversity of aquatic insects which fish feed upon; and improving water quality.
The Alamosa River Water Rights Acquistion for Instream Flow Environmental Assessment may be reviewed at the Capulin Post Office, the Conejos Peak Ranger District in La Jara, the SLV Public Lands Center in Monte Vista or online at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/slvfo.html.
Comments should be mailed to the San Luis Valley Field Office, Attention: Laura Archuleta, 46525 State Highway 114, Saguache, CO 81149; emailed to Laura_Archuleta@fws.gov; or sent by way of facsimile to 719-655-2502. Comments need to be received by June 7, 2012.
For more information about the proposed project, contact Laura Archuleta at 719-655-6121.
For more information about the proposed project, contact Laura Archuleta at 719-655-6121.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
1803 West Highway 160 Monte Vista, CO 81144