[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 12 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E144]]
                     NORTH ST. VRAIN PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______


                          HON. DAVID E. SKAGGS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 20, 1995
  Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am again introducing a bill to 
protect North St. Vrain Creek, the largest remaining roadless canyon 
along Colorado's Front Range. This bill was almost enacted last year 
when it was approved by the House and reported by the Senate Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources. Unfortunately, the full Senate did not 
have time to consider the bill before the end of the session.
  This legislation will prevent construction of new dams on the North 
St. Vrain Creek as it flows through Rocky Mountain National Park and 
the Roosevelt National Forest, and will clear up public land ownership 
along the creek. The North St. Vrain should be kept free of additional 
dams and impoundments for all times. This is some of the best meeting 
of land and water we have in Colorado--and that is saying a lot.
  The bill incorporates the recommendations of a citizens' advisory 
committee, which I appointed in conjunction with the Boulder County 
Commissioners, and which spent over 5 years developing a consensus 
proposal on how to protect the creek and canyon while protecting local 
property and water rights.
  This bill represents an astonishing amount of work by Coloradans--
especially the 50 people who took part in 103 advisory committee 
meetings and performed over 300 hours of independent research. Another 
600 people attended 12 public hearings on the proposal. With the work 
that is already been done by all these people to produce this 
consensus, I hope it will be possible to move this bill through 
Congress quickly and early in this session and not disappoint them 
again.
  The legislation would prohibit any Federal agency from approving a 
new dam or reservoir on the North St. Vrain Creek or its tributaries in 
Rocky Mountain National Park, or on the main stem of the creek below 
the park and above Ralph Price Reservoir, in the Roosevelt National 
Forest.
  The advisory committee originally recommended prohibiting dams just 
on the stretch of the creek below the park. However, at a special town 
meeting I held in Allenspark, CO, to hear comments on the advisory 
committee's recommendation, I received suggestions that the prohibition 
on dams also apply within the national park. After getting agreement 
from advisory committee members, I agreed that the change is an 
improvement.
  To some, I suppose this prohibition might appear to be redundant to 
existing national park protection. However, dams are not currently 
prohibited in the national park, just as they are not in the national 
forest. With the inevitable pressure to supply more water for the 
Denver metropolitan area, it is possible that there will be new 
proposals for smaller water supply projects all along the Front Range 
to meet future urban water needs. As recently as 1979, the city of 
Longmont considered building a dam on the North St. Vrain Creek that 
would have inundated part of Rocky Mountain National Park. And, in the 
early 1980's, we had to deal with the proposed Coffintop Dam on the 
South St. Vrain. That is why it is important to prohibit dams on this 
wild stream.
  The bill also would direct the National Park Service to negotiate 
with the city of Longmont to acquire the city lands that would have 
been used for the city's now-abandoned plan for a dam. The lands are 
located within the park boundaries but not owned by the Federal 
Government. Another provision of the bill would direct the Forest 
Service to pursue negotiations for a proposed land exchange involving 
other Longmont lands in Coulson gulch, along a tributary of the creek 
in the adjoining national forest.
  This legislation itself is the heart of a larger package of policies 
and agreements that will protect the distinctive natural features of 
this area, while assuring the continued enjoyment of privacy and 
productivity by local landowners and water users. I will again seek to 
win committee approval of report language, recommended by the advisory 
committee, to clarify various points.
  The North St. Vrain Creek is located 20 miles northwest of Boulder. 
It is the primary stream flowing from the southeastern portion of Rocky 
Mountain National Park, arising in snowfields near Longs Peak, and 
tumbling through waterfalls and cascades in the Wild Basin area of the 
park. After leaving the park, the creek cuts a narrow, deep canyon 
until it reaches Ralph Price Reservoir. To watch and listen to the 
creek's falls, either in the park or downstream in the forest, is to 
stand silent in wonder--not just because it is difficult to be heard 
above the roar, but also because just watching and listening to the 
water is the best of conversations.
  The watershed includes habitat for bighorn sheep, deer, elk, 
peregrine falcons, flammulated owls, and mountain lions. It also 
provides popular hiking, fishing, and hunting terrain relatively near 
some of Colorado's larger cities.
  I introduce this legislation not only with a belief in the importance 
of protecting the North St. Vrain, but also with a firm conviction that 
the hundreds of Coloradans who have worked on its protection have 
crafted a sound and effective consensus. this is a good bill, a clear 
and simple proposal, which has strong support among the people in the 
area.


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