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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />DRAFT INSTREAM FLOW RECOMMENDATION <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) and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are writing this <br />letter to formally communicate their instream flow recommendation for Baldy Creek, located in <br />Water Division 5. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. Baldy Creek is tributary to Garfield Creek approximately four <br />miles south of New Castle, Colorado. The creek is located within the lower Colorado River <br />watershed. This recommendation covers the stream reach beginning at the headwaters and <br />extending downstream to the headgate of the Murray and Yule Ditch. Approximately 77 percent <br />of the 9.0-mile reach is located on federal and state lands, while the remaining 23 percent is <br />located on private lands. The headwaters of the creek begin on BLM lands, and then the creek <br />flows into the Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area. Prom there, the creek flows through a mixture <br />of private and BLM lands before flowing into another CDOW parcel that is part of the Garfield <br />State Wildlife Area. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Baldy Creek is a high gradient stream, with large substrate size. The <br />creek is often confined by a narrow canyon, and it has cut down to bedrock in numerous <br />locations. The riparian community is very vigorous in the upper portions of the creek. The <br />health of the riparian community is improving on the portions of the creek that are easily <br />accessible for public use and livestock grazing. The creek provides good pool habitat, but low <br />flows in late summer and fall are a limiting factor for the fish population. Fishery surveys <br />indicate that the creek supports self-sustaining population of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. The data analysis, coordinated between BLM and Division of Wildlife, <br />indicates that the following flows are needed to protect the fishery and natural environment to a <br />reasonable degree. <br /> <br />6.5 cubic feet per second is recommended during the snowmelt fUnoffperiod <br />from May 1 through June 30. This recommendation is driven by the average <br />depth and average velocity criteria. Because the creek is characterized by short <br />riffles between numerous plunge pools, it is very important to maintain adequate <br />velocity and depth in the limited riffle habitat. <br /> <br />1.5 cubic feet per second is recommended for the base flow period from July I <br />through April 30. This recommendation is driven by water availability. This <br />flow rate will allow the creek to meet the wetted perimeter criteria and provide <br />sufficient physical habitat for the fish during late summer and early fall, when <br />water temperatures are warm and the fish are gaining weight to enable them to <br />