By CHRIS WOODKATHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

And speaking of the environment, a statewide plan is only effective when each piece of river it touches can be accounted for, said Melinda Kassen of Trout Unlimited.

Kassen said the nine basin roundtables that feed into the IBCC have yet to complete the analysis of nonconsumptive water needs throughout the state. Even then, each project will have to be decided on a case-by-case basis, since recreation interests

- rafting vs. fishing, for example - are often at cross-purposes.

Some reaches are fine, some need protection and some need restoration, Kassen said.

“We need to make sure we use the money available for environmental protection to protect those areas we know will have problems,” Kassen said.

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/09/20/news/local/doc4ab5bc15852b1824827984.txt