7425

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7425
• Author: Vandas, S. e. a.
• Title: Dolores River Instream Flow Assessment
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: Project Report.
• Copyright Material: NO

INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is
responsible for managing lands adjacent to the
Dolores River in southwestern Colorado. Resources
associated with this riverine ecosystem include
outdoor recreation, aquatic habitat, cultural resources,
and riparian vegetation. Many of the resource values
associated with the management of the river ecosys-
tem are dependent upon streamflow quantity. Since
the completion of McPhee Dam and Reservoir,
availability and quantity of instream flows to support
boating, aquatic and riparian habitat, and mainte-
nance of important stream channel and floodplain
physical and biological characteristics and processes
have not been determined.
BLM needs to know what flows are required to
support those resource values it is responsible for

managing. Furthermore, BLM needs to know what
alternatives are available to protect those instream
flows. Opportunities may be available for managing
water supplies for the benefit of both instream and
consumptive uses.
In 1975, the Interior and Agriculture Depart-
ments recommended "Wild and Scenic River" status
for much of the river, including roughly 94 miles of
the portion immediately downstream from Bradfield
Bridge. The Wilderness Study Area (WSA) portion
was recommended for "wild" status; other segments
were recommended for "scenic" and "recreational"
status. BLM (1989) continues to support these
recommendations.

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