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<br /> <br /> <br />IN REPLY REFER TO: <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTI <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br />0' llEPAATWHr OF -INTERIOR <br />",.'::OfLANO_OA"" <br /> <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7250 <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />DEe . r: 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 communicate its instream <br />flow recommendation for Deer Park Creek, located in Water Division 7! <br /> <br />Location and Land Status - Deer Park Creek is tributary to the AnimJ River approximately two <br />miles south of Silverton. The stream reach covered by the surveys condllcted on BLM lands runs <br />from the headwaters to the confluence with the Animas River. Of the 3.65 mile reach, approximately <br />90% is located on federal lands while the remaining 10% is privately owined. <br /> <br />Biological Summary - Fishery surveys indicate that the creek supports j self-sustaining cutthroat <br />trout fishery in the upper portion of the creek in Deer Park. The lower p~)rtion of the creek near the <br />Animas River supports a self-sustaining brook trout fishery. BLM has re!quested that the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife re-introduce Colorado River Cutthroat Trout to the Jpper portion of the creek. <br />The upper creek is suitable for reintroduction because it is difficult to acci~ss and because th<m:: are <br />waterfalls that create barriers to fish passage from the Animas River. Thd stream environment is <br />presently in excellent condition and provides suitable substrate, channel sj:ability, cover, wat~:r quality, <br />and food supplies for salmonids. However, much of the stream is very st9:ep and high velocity, so <br />pools and other feeding/spawning locations are limited. Accordingly, it is: important to protect stre:am <br />flows that maintain the limited amount of physical habitat and that maintain water exchange in pools <br />during low flow periods. <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 J:o 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 Javerage depth criteria is <br />important for provide sufficient suitable conditions for spawning arid recruitment, and for <br />passage between pools. <br /> <br /> <br />1.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the cold temperature ~)eriod from November 1 <br />I <br />to April 30. This recommendation was produced by averaging the ri~sults of three R2Cross <br />I <br />I <br />