Some ideas about our goals and objectives

I will kick off some discussion by putting forth a few ideas about what I think our goals (broad are broad, general intentions) and objectives (specific and tangible) are that can be supported by at least most members:

Goals of the Akransas Basin Roundtable:
1)focus on retaining sufficient water in the Arkansas River and its tributaries to:
-a)provide adequate amounts of water for basin municipal areas & industrial use
-b)maintain the economies of both rural as well as urban areas throughout this basin
-c)provide necessary amounts of water to sustain basin family farming and ranching
-d)support sufficient dilution needed to sustain water quality standards
-e)sustain the stream and riparian ecosystems that improve water quality, maintain
.....hydrologic flow, reduces soil erosion, and provides fish & wildlife habitat
-f)arrange necessary stream flows required for recreational activities including .....fishing, boating (rafting, kayaking, canoeing), and wildlife watching.
2)support agricultural water leasing projects that retain water in the river and tributaries so that:
-a)lands are not dewatered and rural communities harmed,
-b)while providing water to municipal systems,
-c)and financial benefit to those with water use rights.
3)to serve as a forum for public involvement regarding alternative proposals for .....meeting water needs of the basin [this is required by the statute]


Objectives are (these come from powers & responsibilities specified in HB1177):
1)establish bylaws, operating procedures, goals, and objectives
2)as deemed appropriate by the Executive Director, take on the duties and functions of the Roundtables created pursuant to the Statewide Water Supply Initiative
3)select two representatives to the Interbasin Compact Committee
4)develop a basin-wide water needs assessment that:
-a)looks at both consumptive and nonconsumptive needs
-b)analyzes the availability of unappropriated waters within the basin, if any
-c)seeks the input and advice of affected local governments, water providers and
.....other interested stakeholders and persons
5)propose projects or non-structural methods for meeting water supply needs and .....utilizing unappropriated waters where appropriate and available.
6)serve as a forum for education and debate regarding methods for meeting water .....supply needs
7)as needed, establish roundtable subcommittees or other mechanisms to facilitate .....dialogue and resolution of issues and conflicts within the basin.

SeEtta Moss

More blog info

Just wanted to point out that I have put links on the right side of this page that, by clicking on them, will take you directly to the following relevant websites:

>Interbasin Compact Site--this is specific to the Roundtable process
>CWCB Site--the Colorado Water Conservation Board website
>Colo'sDecisionSupportSystems--a new site I just found that has links to info that may be useful to us in this endeavors

I thought I a few pics of the Arkansas River and one of its major tributaries, the Purgatory, would be appropriate. So I posted some photos I took of the following: the top photo is the Arkansas River near Canon City, the second one is the Arkansas River near Salida, the third photo is of the Purgatory River in Picketwire Canyon and the bottom photo is of John Martin Reservoir.

SeEtta Moss
Roundtable "tree-hugger"

Welcome fellow Roundtable members

I hope that you did not experience any problems in navigating to our blog. Since this blog was created as a tool for Roundtable members to communicate with each other, I suggest we limit membership to our group and to the DNR/CWCB representatives working with us. I would suggest that we also allow the technical advisors to our Roundtable be allowed to register as members of this blog so they can provide information to us that they believe to be salient to our discussions.

Since our process is intended to be be a public endeavor and subject to the Open Meetings Law, I have constructed this site so anyone can read the posts (please remember that when posting).

SeEtta Moss, Environmental Representative
Arkansas Valley Audubon Society