ISFAPPC01558 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e e Summary The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder forms the basis for staff s instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staff s opinion that the infornlation contained in this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule 5.40. Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of the natural environment" (see 37-92-102 (3) C.R.S.). The statute vests the CWCB with the exclusive authority to IlPpropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake level water rights. In order to encourage, other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the statute directs the CWCB to request in stream flow recommendations from other state and federal agencies. The Bureau 9f Land Management recommended this segment of Minnie Gulch to the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Minnie Gulch is being considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. The BLM is very interested in protecting stream flows because Minnie Gulch is one of the few creeks with sufficient water quality to support a salmonid fishery in this historic mining district. Many other streams in this district are contaminated with heavy metals. Minnie Gulch is 3.9 miles long. It begins near the Continental Divide at an elevation of approximately 12,400 feet. It terminates at the confluence with the Animas River at an elevation of approximately 9,800 feet. Approximately 84% of the 3.9-mile segment addressed by this report is located on federal lands. Minnie Gulch is located within San Juan County. The total drainage area of the cr~ek is approximately 4.9 square miles. Minnie Gulch generally flows in a northwesterly direction. The subject of this r~port is a segment of Minnie Gulch beginning at the headwaters and extending downstream to the confluence with the Animas River. The proposed segment is located northeast of the Town of Silverton. The staff has received only one recommendation for this segment, from the aLM. The recommendation for this segment is discussed below. Instream Flow Recommendation(s) BLM recommended a 0.7 cfs enlargement from May 1 to October 3l(see Appendix A). The modeling results from these survey efforts are within the confidence interval produced by the R2Cross model. I Land Status Review Upper Terminus Headwaters Lower Terminus Confluence with Animas River Total Length (miles) 3.9 Land Ownership % Private % Public 16% 84% - 2 -