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Colorado River During the early 1990s, the Board was involved with the USFWS to quantify and appropriate recovery flows for endangered fish in the Colorado River. In 1992, the Board appropriated an instream flow water right on the main stem of the Colorado River downstream from the GVIC diversion for 581 cfs. After additional studies of return flows and flow accretions to the critical habitat reach of the Colorado River, the Board subsequently appropriated an enlargement of flow for the lower 2 miles of the decreed instream flow reach. The 1994 enlargement was for an additional 300 cfs to aid in the recovery of endangered fish. Cattle Creek In 1997, the BLM presented a recommendation to the Board to enlarge the decreed instream flow on Cattle Creek "during the high temperature period between April 1 and October 31." "This flow meets all three instream flow criteria, and is driven by the average depth criteria." The basis cited by BLM for this enlargement was `Tuture subdivision development in the area will result in increased demands for water from this stream" and the recommendation was important to BLM resource management goals. Minnie Gulch In 2004, the BLM recommended this segment of stream for an enlargement. The basis cited by BLM for this enlargement is "This recommendation is driven by the average depth criteria. BLM was concerned that the existing 1 cfs instream flow water right did not provide sufficient physical habitat during the warn summer weather, and the R2Cross surveys verified that concern." Also referenced in the recommendation letter is the BLM's concern that it "is engaged in a multi-year, multi-million dollar effort to reduce acid mine drainage from historic mines in the Animas drainage. The objective of this effort is restoring ecological functioning to water quality degraded streams in the basin. Minnie Gulch drains an area with very few mines, and it is one of the very few streams in the area that has sufficient water quality to support a trout fishery. BLM is very interested in protecting flows in this system to maintain ecological functioning. San Miguel River In 2005, the DOW recommended this segment of stream for an enlargement. In 1996, "the San Miguel Stakeholders requested that DOW and CWCB revisit the upper San Miguel River Basin and evaluate the flow needs of all stream segments located in the basin." Additional data was collected by DOW which indicated the need to enlarge the existing decree by 4 cfs from May through October. "This flow is required to maintain to a reasonable degree, the three principal hydraulic criteria of average depth, average velocity and percent wetted perimeter." Bear Creek In 2005, the DOW recommended this segment of stream for an enlargement. In 1996, "the San Miguel Stakeholders requested that DOW and CWCB revisit the upper San Miguel River Basin and evaluate the flow needs of all stream segments located in the basin." Additional data was collected by DOW which indicated the need to enlarge the existing decree by 4.5 cfs from May through October. "This flow is required to maintain to a reasonable degree, the three principal hydraulic criteria of average depth, average velocity and percent wetted perimeter."