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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.!I <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder forms the <br />basis for staffs instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staffs <br />opinion that the information contained in this report is sufficient to support the findings required <br />in Rule 5.40. <br /> <br />Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature <br />recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of <br />the natural environment" (see 37-92-102 (3) C.R.S.). The statute vests the CWCB with the <br />exclusive authority to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake level water rights. <br />In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the <br />statute directs the CWCB to request instream flow recommendations from other state and federal <br />agencIes. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) recommended this segment of Royer <br />Gulch to the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Royer Gulch is being <br />considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment <br />that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. The CDOW is <br />very interested in protecting stream flows because Royer Gulch supports a wide variety of <br />aquatic macroinvetebrates indicative of high quality water and it supports a healthy riparian <br />community. Dissolved levels of heavy metals in the San Miguel River continue to be a problem <br />for the river's fishery but conditions are improving; the high quality water from tributary streams <br />such as Royer Gulch are vital to the continued improvement of water quality and the San <br />Miguel's fish population. <br /> <br />Royer Gulch is a tributary of the San Miguel River. This stream is approximately 1.5 miles <br />long. Royer Gulch originates north of Telluride at approximately 12,100 feet and terminates at <br />the confluence with the San Miguel River at approximately 9,000 feet. The creek is located in <br />San Miguel County. The total drainage area of the creek is approximately 1.0 square miles. <br />Royer Gulch generally flows in a southerly direction. There are no significant tributaries to <br />Royer Gulch within this reach. The subject of this report is a 1.5 mile segment of Royer Gulch <br />beginning at its headwaters and extending to the San Miguel River. (see Figure 1). This segment <br />is located near the Town of Telluride. To date, the staff has received only one recommendation <br />for this segment. This recommendation is discussed below. <br /> <br />Instream Flow Recommendation(s) <br />The CDOW has recommended 1.3 cfs year-round. <br /> <br />land Status Review <br /> <br />Upper Terminus <br />Headwaters <br /> <br />Total Length <br />(miles) <br />1.5 <br /> <br />Land Ownership <br />% Private I % Public <br />0% I 100% <br /> <br />Lower Terminus <br />San Miguel River <br /> <br />This segment is approximately 100% public land. 100% of the public land is managed by the <br />USFS (See attached Figure 1). <br /> <br />Biological Data <br /> <br />The CDOW has conducted field surveys of the fishery resources on this stream and have found a <br />natural environment that can be preserved. As reported for this reach of stream in CDOW'S <br />recommendation letter to the CWCB, no fish were collected; this is not to be interpreted in such <br />a manner to say that Royer Gulch is incapable of supporting fish. Royer Gulch supports a wide <br />variety of aquatic macroinvetebrates indicative of high quality water and it supports a healthy <br />