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<br />- . <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2 <br />appropriating 0.8 cfs during the winter icing period, because our preliminary water availability <br />analysis indicates that this flow is available at least 50% of the time during the winter months. <br />Maintaining adequate flow during the winter is important for maintaining ice-free pools_ <br /> <br />Water Availability. BLM is not aware of any decreed surface diversions in this reach_ This stream <br />has never been gauged. BLM recommends using the East Fork Arkansas River gauge near Leadville <br />for water availability calculations, with adjustments made to reflect the different sizes of the <br />watersheds. <br /> <br />Relationship to Management Plans. BLM manages significant amounts of acreage in the historic <br />Leadville mining district, and most of the streams managed by BLM in the area cannot support fish <br />because of acid mine drainage. Birdseye Gulch is one of the few streams that can support fish because <br />very little land in this watershed was mined. Accordingly, BLM seeks protection of Birdseye Gulch <br />because it can serve as a good reference stream for comparison with other streams where rehabilitation <br />of abandoned mines is occurring_ <br /> <br />The BLM requests that the Board recognize that this recommendation is based only upon the minimum <br />flows necessary to support cold-water fishery values. BLM may wish to work with the Board and/or <br />through the Colorado water rights system to appropriate flows to optimally protect fish values and to <br />protect other water-dependent values specified in BLM resource management plans. <br /> <br />Data sheets, R2Cross output, fishery survey i:aformation, and photographs of the cross section are <br />enclosed to support this recommendation. We thank both the Division of Wildlife and the Water <br />Conservation Board for their cooperation in this effort_ <br /> <br />If you have any questions regarding our instream flow recommendation, please contact Roy Smith at <br />303-239-3940. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />;~ultu /J1 aU:;u-i{ <br /> <br />Linda M. Anania <br />Deputy State Director, Resources and Fire <br /> <br />4 - Enclosures <br /> <br />cc: David GiJbert, Royal Gorge Fa <br />Roy Masinton, Royal Gorge Fa <br />John Smeins, Royal Gorge Fa <br />