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pQ~~ENT of ry~i o~ -° ~--_~.~, United States Department of the Interior • .;`n 9 ~ - _ ,k ~ I3URirAU Ot' LANll 1\~ANAGEv1F:NT Caloradc~ Sa-tc Oflice ~4RCH ~.~0 2KSb Youngiield Street ,n k,:r:.t 1 ~, Lakewood. Colorado 8Q21>-7U93 ~'S`d (CO-932) Mr. Dan Merriman Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 ~~ 1 9 ~d Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mr. Merriman: ua oeran~rs-we w~non ^lICNI M IIM WwMltMl -.~- www.co.binZ.~_:rv The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its recommendation for an instream flow enlargement on Badger Creek, located in Water Division 2. Location and Land Status. Badger Creek is tributary to the Arkansas River between the communities of Howard and Wellsville. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at a complex of large springs located in the SE/4 SE/4, Section 13, TS1N R10E, New Mexico P.M. and extends downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River. Approximately 90% of the 16.0. mile reach is located on public lands, while the remaining 10% is in private ownership. Biological Summary. Badger Creek is a moderate gradient stream with small substrate size that occasionally experiences very large flood events. The stream supports riparian communities consisting of cottonwood/coyote willow, willow/alder, and mesic grasses. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable condition, and supports aself- sustaining brown trout fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, food supplies, and water quality arc good for salmonids. However, the fishery is limited by a high silt load and occasional high stream temperatures. Accordingly, it is important to provide streamflows that keep stream temperatures low and that flush sediments from the system. R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree: The existing instream flow water right is for 3.0 cubic feet per second year-round. BLM recommends an enlargement of 2.5 cubic feet per second during the period from April ] to August 31. An enlargement of 2.0 cubic feet per second is recommended during the period from September 1 to October 31. This recommendation was derived by averaging the results of three different cross sections that are representative of the various types of channel morphology that are present on Badger Creek. Protecting additional flow is important during the annual warm temperature period because much of the stream is at low elevation and lacks significant shading. Without sufficient velocity and depth, the stream temperatures can stress the salmonid population. In addition, it is important to protect stream flows through October, because the brown trout population is spawning at this time. •