ISFAPPC01673 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. .. aPQtMgNT OF Ty~/ ua~eenmuwr ixrenax ,~, ym United States Department of the Interior ~ ~4' 9 • ' $ BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ~'4a ~_eag ~ Colorado State Office °"'• 2850 Youngfield Street IF REVLY REFER TO'. LakeWOOd, Colorado 80215-7093 www.co.blm.gov CO-932 7250 DEC 20 2002 Mr. Dan Memman Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mr. Merriman: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow recommendation for Canyon Creek, located in Water Division 5. Location and Land Status. Canyon Creek is tributary to the Colorado River approximately six miles west of Glenwood Springs. The stream reach that was surveyed runs from the confluence • with Johnson Creek to the headgate of the Baxter Ditch. Of the 7.5 mile reach, 100 percent is located on public lands. Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is in good condition, and supports aself-sustaining brook, brown, and cutthroat trout fishery. Channel and bank stability, substrate, and water quality is excellent for salmonids. However, a paucity of pools and suboptimal cover are limiting factors for fish habitat, underscoring the importance of adequate flow to prevent further stress to the fish population. Because of some natural stream battlers, the stream provides good habitat for Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. R2Cross Analysis. BLM collected two data sets on this reach. This effort produced both summer and winter recommendations that aze within the confidence interval of the RZCross model. BLM's data analysis indicates that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree: 24.10 cubic feet per second is recommended for the high temperature period from May 1 to October 31. This recommendation was driven by the average velocity criteria. The stream is characterized by an abundance of very large substrate sizes. To have suitable velocity for spawning areas, sufficient flow is needed to overcome the overall roughness of the stream channel. 13.50 cubic feet per second is recommended for the low temperature period from • November 1 to April 30. This recommendation is driven by the average depth criteria.