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

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DRAFT INSTREAM FLOW RECOMMENDATION

Mr. Dan Merriman
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203

Dear Mr. Merriman:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its
instream flow recommendation for Battlement Creek, located in Water Division 5.

Location and Land Status. Battlement Creek is tributary to the Colorado River approximately
13 miles southwest of Rifle, Colorado. The creek is located within the lower Colorado River
watershed. This recommendation covers the stream reach beginning at the outlet of Battlement
Reservoirs and extends downstream to the headgate of the Battlement Ditch. Approximately 50
percent of the 5.0-mile reach is located on federal lands, while the remaining 50 percent is
located on private lands. Approximately 50% of the federal lands are managed by the U.S.
Forest Service, and 50% are managed by the BLM.

Biological Summary. Battlement Creek is a high gradient stream, with moderate substrate size.
The creek is often confined by a narrow canyon, and it has cut down to bedrock in numerous
locations. The riparian community is very vigorous in these confined locations and provides
substantial shading and nutrient supply for the creek. The creek provides good pool habitat, but
riffles for spawning are a limiting factor for the fish population. Fishery surveys indicate that the
creek supports a self-sustaining population of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. Genetic sampling
of the trout population has revealed extremely high genetic purity, despite the proximity of
roads, campgrounds, and reservoirs. These features often attract informal stocking of brook and
rainbow trout by visiting fishermen.

R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates
that the following flows are needed to protect the fishery and natural environment to a
reasonable degree.

6.3 cubic feet per second is recommended during the high temperature period
from May I through July 31. This recommendation is driven by the average
depth and average velocity criteria. Because the creek is characterized by short
riffles between numerous plunge pools, it is very important to maintain adequate
velocity and depth in the limited riffle habitat.

3.5 cubic feet second is recommended for late summer and early fall, from August
I to October 31. This recommendation is driven by water availability. This flow
will allow the creek, on average, to exceed wetted perimeter criteria and velocity
criteria, and provide flows that are slightly less than the depth criteria.

1.5 cubic feet per second is recommended for the low temperature period from