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IN REPLY REFER TO <br />CO -932 <br />7200 <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br />OEC 1 6 2043 <br />U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTEMM <br />'BUREAU <br />www.co.blm.gov <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow <br />recommendation for North Fork West Creek, located in Water Division 4. <br />Location and Land Status. The North Fork West Creek watershed is located approximately six miles <br />northeast of Gateway. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at the confluence with Two V Gulch and <br />runs 5.6 miles downstream to the confluence with West Creek. Approximately 56 percent of the reach is <br />owned and managed by BLM, while the remaining 44 percent is in private ownership. <br />Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is in good condition and <br />supports a self - sustaining rainbow trout and speckled dace fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, and <br />water quality are excellent for salmonids. However, the limiting factor on this creek is the steepness of the <br />channel, which results in low quantities of pool habitat. In addition, this creek has a very large substrate size, <br />so locations with suitable spawning gravels are limited. <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the <br />following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree: <br />• 3.7 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April Ito October 31 high temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. Meeting the velocity criteria is <br />important for insuring optimal spawning conditions in the limited amount of spawning habitat. <br />I� <br />0 <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />0.8 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November 1 to March 31 low temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the average depth criteria. Given the large substrate size of this <br />channel, it is important to have sufficient depths to allow fish to move from pool to pool during the <br />winter. <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215 -7093 <br />