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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) and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are writing this letter to formally communicate our joint recommendation for an instream flow enlargement on lower Beaver Creek, located in Water Division 5. The existing instream flow water right on this creek is 1.5 cubic feet per second, year round, from the headwaters to the confluence with the Colorado River, a distance of 10 miles. The existing in stream flow water right was established in 1986. . Location and Land Status. Beaver Creek is tributary to the Colorado River approximately two miles west of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. The creek is located within the upper Colorado River watershed in Grand County. This recommendation covers the stream reach beginning at the confluence with Spring Creek and extending downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River. All ofthe land along 2.75 mile reach is owned and managed by the BLM and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, with the exception of 1,4 mile of private land. Biological Summary. Beaver Creek is a high gradient stream with large substrate size. Much of the reach covered by this recommendation is confined by a narrow valley. Beaver activity is widespread in the reach, with short rimes between beaver dams. The willow riparian community is extensive, and often covers the entire valley floor. The riparian community also provides substantial shading, nutrient supply for the creek, and overhanging banks for the fish population. Fishery surveys indicate that the creek supports a self-sustaining population of brown trout, with small numbers of brook trout, and mottled sculpin present. There are no permanent physical barriers between this reach and the Colorado River, so it assumed that the brown trout population in the Colorado River utilizes this creek as a spawning and nursery habitat. 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. A 0.45 cubic feet per second enlargement is recommended during the high temperature period from April 1 through September 30, bringing the total in stream flow right up to 1.95 cubic feet per second during this time period. This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. Because the creek is characterized by short rimes between numerous beaver ponds and plunge pools, it is very important to maintain adequate depth in the limited rime habitat. e Water Availability. Upstream from the proposed enlargement, there is a 9.825 cfs conditional