DEL NORTE, Colo. – The Rio Grande National Forest recently approved two projects on the Divide Ranger District that were proposed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
 
Divide District Ranger Martha Williamson approved the Beaver Park Additional Inundation project.  The decision allows Williamson to offer CPW a special use permit to inundate 17.5 acres of National Forest System land at the south end of Beaver Park Reservoir. CPW must first confirm that it has the legal right to inundate the private land next to the forest before the agency may fill the reservoir to the proposed level.
 
Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor Dan Dallas approved CPW’s proposed Roaring Fork Stream Restoration project. The purpose of this project is to reestablish a Rio Grande cutthroat trout (RGCT) population in Roaring Fork Creek. The project area is located within the Weminuche Wilderness approximately 12 miles south of Creede.
 
Prior to stocking RGCT, rotenone will be applied to the Roaring Fork drainage to remove nonnative trout which compete for resources and could potentially threaten the genetic integrity of RGCT.
 
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has the responsibility and authority to administer protection and management of fish and wildlife populations on National Forest System lands.  However, the U.S. Forest Service has the jurisdiction and responsibility for management actions that may affect the land and water resources on national forests.  The project will be authorized through a special use permit.
 
The environmental analyses and decision notices for both projects may be reviewed on the Rio Grande National Forest’s website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/landmanagement/projects
 
For more information, contact the Divide Ranger District at 719-657-3321.