BOARD00048 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 9/19/2006
• Description: ISF Section - Contested Instream Flow Appropriation Hearing - Elkhead and Armstrong Creeks
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Hearings

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. enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its
visitors ... and that, to carry out such program and policy, there shall be a continuous operation
of planning, acquisition, and development of wildlife habitats and facilities for wildlife-related
opportunities" C.R.S. 33-1-101 (1). The CDOW Strategic Plan states "Healthy aquatic
environments are essential to maintain healthy and viable fisheries, and critical for self-
sustaining populations. The Division desires to protect and enhance the quality and quantity of
aquatic habitats."

Armstrong Creek is approximately 4.6 miles long. It begins on the west side of Meaden Peak at
aD elevation of approximately 9850 feet and terminates at the confluence with Elkhead Creek at
an elevation of approximately 7900 feet. Of the 4.6 mile segment addressed by this report,
approximately 100% of the segment, or 4.6 miles, is located on public lands. Armstrong Creek
is located within Routt County. The total drainage area of the river is approximately 3.5 square
miles. Armstrong Creek generally flows in a westerly direction.

The subject of this report is a segment of Armstrong Creek beginning at its headwaters and
extending downstream to Elkhead Creek. The proposed segment is located northeast of the
Town of Craig. The staff has received one recommendation for this segment from the CDOW.
The recommendation for this segment is discussed below.

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Instream Flow Recommendation(s)

The CD OW has recommended 1.0 cfs, summer, and 0.4 cfs, winter, based on their data
collection efforts (see Table 1 and Appendix A). The modeling results from this survey effort
are within the confidence interval produced by the R2CROSS model.

Land Status Review

Total Length Land Ownership
Upper Terminus Lower Terminus (miles) % Private % Public
Headwaters Elkhead Creek 4.6 0 100

100% of the public lands are owned by the USFS.

Biological and Field Survey Data
As reported in the letter from CDOW to the CWCB "The DOW, in July of 2005, collected
stream cross section information, natural environment data, and other data needed to quantify the
instream flow needs for this reach of Armstrong Creek. Armstrong Creek is classified as a minor
stream (between 4 to 9 feet wide) and fishery surveys indicate the stream environment of
Armstrong Creek supports Colorado River cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki pleuriticus), Brook trout
(Salvelinusfontinalis), Mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus), White sucker (Catostomus
commersoni), Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus), Longnose dace (Rhinichthys
cataractae), Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) and Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi).

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Colorado River cutthroat trout and Mountain sucker have been identified by the DOW and
several other state and federal agencies as "species of greatest conservation need". DOW is
involved in developing Conservation and Management Plans for these species. The intention of
these plans is to increase populations and distributions of identified species, thereby assisting in

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