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Summary The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder forms the basis for staffs instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staffs opinion that the information contained in this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule 5.40. Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of the natural environment" (see 37-92-102 (3) c.R.S.). The statute vests the CWCB with the exclusive authority to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake level water rights. In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the statute directs the CWCB to request instream flow recommendations from other state and federal agencies. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) recommended this segment of Little Cochetopa Creek to the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Little Cochetopa Creek is being considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. The CDOW is very interested in protecting stream flows because Little Cochetopa Creek is one of several streams managed by CD OW with an above average cold water fishery near Salida, Colorado. Little Cochetopa Creek has a considerable amount of public access throughout its course and is therefore important for public use and recreation (including, but not limited to angling). Little Cochetopa Creek is 8.4 miles long. It begins on the northern flank of Mount Ouray at an elevation of approximately 11,400 feet and terminates at the confluence with Spruce Creek at an elevation of approximately 8,125 feet. This segment is located on private, state, and federal lands. Little Cochetopa Creek is located within Chaffee County. The total drainage area of the creek upstream of Spruce Creek is approximately 13.5 square miles. Little Cochetopa Creek generally flows in a northeastern direction. The subject of this report is a segment of Little Cochetopa Creek beginning at its headwaters and extending downstream to the confluence with Spruce Creek (see Map Appendix D). The proposed segment is located approximately 7 miles southwest of Salida, Colorado. The staff has received only one recommendation for this segment, from the Division of Wildlife. The recommendation for this segment is discussed below. Instream Flow Recommendation(s) CDOW recommended 2.8 cfs, summer, and 2.0 cfs, winter, based on its September 18, 2003 data collection efforts (see 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 Spruce Creek 8.4 29% 71% 71 % of the reach is located on federal lands managed by the USFS. - 2 -