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<br />~ ;; ~ <br /> <br />IN REPLY REFER TO: <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />5200 <br /> <br />DEe 1 7 2003 <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its <br />instream flow recommendation for Fourmile Creek, located in Water Division 2. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. The Fourmile Creek watershed is located approximately two miles <br />north of Buena Vista. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at confluence with Little <br />Fourmile Creek and the headwaters and runs 1.95 miles downstream to the confluence with the <br />Arkansas River. Approximately 64% of the reach is located on public lands, while the remaining <br />36% is in private ownership. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable <br />condition, and supports a self-sustaining brown trout fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, <br />food supplies, and cover are good for salmonids. However, the fishery is limited by a high silt <br />load and occasional high stream temperatures. Accordingly, it is important to provide <br />streamflows that keep stream temperatures low and that flush sediments from the system. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates <br />that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a <br />reasonable degree: <br /> <br />1.20 cubic feet per second is recommended from January 1 to December 31. This <br />recommendation is driven by the average criteria and average depth criteria. Meeting the <br />depth criteria is important for insuring that the fish population has access to spawning <br />gravels in a stream that has steep gradients and narrow widths. Meeting the average <br />velocity criteria is important for preventing excessively high stream temperatures during <br />summer and early fall. <br />