Laserfiche WebLink
<br />IN REPLY REFER TO: <br /> <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />United States Department of the I~lterior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br /> <br />, . <br /> <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7250 <br /> <br />DEe ~ L. 2004 <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman; <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally iCOmmunicate its in stream <br />flow recommendation for Deer Park Creek, located in Water Division 7. I <br /> <br />I <br />Location and Land Status - Deer Park Creek is tributary to the Animas ~Uver approximately two <br />miles south of Silverton. The stream reach covered by the surveys conduoted on BLM lands runs <br />I <br />from the headwaters to the confluence with the Animas River. Of the 3.65 mile reach, approximatdy <br />90% is located on federal lands while the remaining 10% is privately ownJ~d. <br />I <br /> <br />Biological Summary - Fishery surveys indicate that the creek supports a self-sustaining cutthroat <br />trout fishery in the upper portion of the creek in Deer Park. The lower po~tion of the creek m~ar thc~ <br />Animas River supports a self-sustaining brook trout fishery. BLM has requested that the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife re-introduce Colorado River Cutthroat Trout to the u~'Per portion of the creek. <br />The upper creek is suitable for reintroduction because it is difficult to acce!ss and because there are <br />waterfalls that create barriers to fish passage from the Animas River. The !stream environment is <br />presently in excellent condition and provides suitable substrate, channel sJlbility, cover, water quality, <br />and food supplies for salmonids. However, much of the stream is very ste~~p and high veloci~y, so <br />pools and other feeding/spawning locations are limited. Accordingly, it is ;important to protect stream <br />flows that maintain the limited amount of physical habitat and that maintaiJl water exchange in pools <br />during low flow periods. I <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis - BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the <br />following flows are needed to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree. <br /> <br />2.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the high temperature period from May 1 to <br />October 31. This recommendation was produced by averaging the ;results of two R2Cross <br />surveys, and it is driven by the average depth criteria. Meeting the laverage depth criteria is <br />important for provide sufficient suitable conditions for spawning aild recruitment, and for <br />passage between pools. <br /> <br /> <br />1.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the cold temperature period from November 1 <br />to April 30. This recommendation was produced by averaging the i:esults ofthree R2Cross <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />! <br />