BOARD00154 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 3/13/2007
• Description: ISF Section - Notice of 2008 Instream Flow Recommendations and Summary of ISF Workshop
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

overwinter.

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Water Availability. There is one decreed ?iversion within the proposed instream flow reach,
the Fairview Mesa Ditch. This water right is owned by CDOW and is currently not being
operated.

BLM does not recommend using the historic USGS gage for Baldy Creek (09088000) that was
operated from 1955 to 1961. This gage wa~ located downstream from the Fairview Mesa Ditch,
which is decreed for 10 cfs. This ditch wasil actively diverted during the period of record for the
gage. These diversions resulted in very low1flow measurements from mid-summer to fall, when
the ditch was capable of sweeping the entird flow of the creek. As noted above, this ditch is not
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current y operatmg.

BLM recommends using the historic Battle~ent Creek Gage (USGS 09092600), which was
operated for 10 years from 1956 through 19~5. Even though this gage is located 25 miles to the
west, it has very similar slope, aspect, and watershed size. This gage was not affected by ditch
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diversions and is a better indication of raw 'Yater availability in this region.

Relationship to Management Plans. Genetic sampling indicates that the Colorado River
Cutthroat Trout population is of high geneti~ quality. Accordingly, BLM will manage this creek
to support a conservation population. :

Data sheets, R2Cross output, fishery surveYI information, and photographs of the cross section .
are enclosed to support this recommendatioh. We thank both the Water Conservation Board for
its cooperation in this effort. '

If you have any questions regarding our instream flow recommendation, please contact Roy
Smith at 303-239-3940. I

Sincerely,

Linda Anania
Deputy State Director
Resources and Fire

4 Enclosures

cc: Jamie Connell, Grand Junction Fa
Tom Fresques, Glenwood Springs Fa

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