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<br />. <br /> <br />for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment that can be <br />preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. The BLM is very interested <br />in protecting streamflows because Specie Creek provides an important recreational fishery with <br />good access for public use. <br /> <br />Specie Creek is a tributary of the San Miguel River and is approximately 6.5 miles long. It <br />begins near a geological feature known as Little Cone at an elevation of approximately 10,500 <br />feet, and terminates at the confluence with the San Miguel River at an elevation of approximately <br />7050 feet. Approximately 36% of the segment, or 2.0 miles, is located on federal lands, while <br />the remainder of the segment, 3.5 miles, is located on private lands. The creek is located within <br />San Miguel County. The total drainage area of the creek is approximately 11.3 square miles. <br />Specie Creek generally flows in a northerly direction. <br /> <br />The subject of this report is a segment of Species Creek beginning at the headgate of the Hughes <br />Ditch and extending downstream to the confluence with the San Miguel River (see Figure 1). <br />This segment is located west ofthe Town ofPlacerville. To date, the staff has received only one <br />recommendation on Specie Creek, from the Bureau of Land Management. The recommendation <br />for the Hughes Ditch headgate to confluence with the San Miguel segment is discussed below. <br /> <br />Instream Flow Recommendation(s) <br /> <br />BLM's instream flow recommendation is for 4.25 cfs (April 1 51 - October 3151) and 1.5 cfs <br />(November 151 - March 3151). <br /> <br />Land Status Review <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Upper Terminus <br />Headwaters <br /> <br />Lower Terminus <br />San Miguel River <br /> <br />Total Length <br />(miles) <br />6.5 <br /> <br />Land Ownership <br />% Private I % Public <br />35% I 65% <br /> <br />Approximately 35% of the reach is located on federal lands managed by the BLM. The <br />remaining 65% is located on private lands. <br /> <br />Biological Data <br /> <br />The BLM 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 the letter to <br />the CWCB "Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is in stable condition. The <br />stream supports a self-sustaining rainbow trout fishery. Spawning substrate, food availability, <br />and water temperatures are generally good for salmonids. However, many reaches have limited <br />cover and the steep gradient makes the habitat susceptible to degradation during high runoff <br />events. This underscores the importance of adequate flows to insure that the limited habitat is <br />fully available to the fish population for feeding and spawning. (See BLM Fish Survey in <br />Appendix B). <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Field Survey Data <br /> <br />BLM staff used the R2Cross methodology to quantify the amount of water required to preserve <br />the natural environment to a reasonable degree. The R2Cross method requires that stream <br />discharge and channel profile data be collected in a riffle stream habitat type. Riffles are most <br />easily visualized as the stream habitat types that would dry up first should streamflow cease. <br />This type of hydraulic data collection consists of setting up a transect, surveying the stream <br /> <br />- 3 - <br />