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IN REPLY dd (CO -932) <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215 -7093 <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 DEC 1 9 20116 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br />U.S. DEPARTMENTOF THE INTERIOR <br />'BUREAU <br />www.co.blm.gov <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its <br />recommendation for an instream flow enlargement on Badger Creek, located in Water Division 2. <br />Location and Land Status. Badger Creek is tributary to the Arkansas River between the <br />communities of Howard and Wellsville. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at a complex <br />of large springs located in the SE /4 SE /4, Section 13, T5 IN RI OE, New Mexico P.M. and <br />extends downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River. Approximately 90% of the 16.0 - <br />mile reach is located on public lands, while the remaining 10% is in private ownership. <br />Biological Summary. Badger Creek is a moderate gradient stream with small substrate size that <br />occasionally experiences very large flood events. The stream supports riparian communities <br />consisting of cottonwood /coyote willow, willow /alder, and mesic grasses. Fishery surveys <br />indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable condition, and supports a self - <br />sustaining brown trout fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, food supplies, and water quality <br />are good for salmonids. However, the fishery is limited by a high silt load and occasional high <br />stream temperatures. Accordingly, it is important to provide streamflows that keep stream <br />temperatures low and that flush sediments from the system. <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates <br />that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a <br />reasonable degree: <br />The existing instream flow water right is for 3.0 cubic feet per second year- round. BLM <br />recommends an enlargement of 2.5 cubic feet per second during the period from April 1 <br />to August 31. An enlargement of 2.0 cubic feet per second is recommended during the <br />period from September 1 to October 31. This recommendation was derived by averaging <br />the results of three different cross sections that are representative of the various types of <br />channel morphology that are present on Badger Creek. Protecting additional flow is <br />important during the annual warm temperature period because much of the stream is at <br />low elevation and lacks significant shading. Without sufficient velocity and depth, the <br />stream temperatures can stress the salmonid population. In addition, it is important to <br />protect stream flows through October, because the brown trout population is spawning at <br />this time. <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />