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0 <br />DRAFT INSTREAM FLOW RECOMMENDATION <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br />0 <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 <br />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, T51N R10E, New Mexico P.M. and <br />extends downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River. Approximately % of the <br />14.4 -mile reach is located on public lands, while the remaining % 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 />An enlargement of 2.5 cubic feet per second is recommended during the high temperature <br />period from April 1 to October 31. The existing instream flow water right is for 3.0 <br />cubic feet per second year- round, so the enlargement would increase the water right to 5.5 <br />cubic feet per second during the warm temperature period. This recommendation was <br />derived by averaging the results of three different cross sections that are representative of <br />the various types of channel morphology that are present on Badger Creek. Protecting <br />additional flow is important during the warm temperature period because much of the <br />stream is at low elevation and lacks significant shading. Without sufficient velocity and <br />depth, the stream temperatures can stress the salmonid population. In addition, it is <br />important to protect stream flows through October, because the brown trout population is <br />spawning at this time. <br />• Water Availability. BLM is aware of only one decreed surface diversions in this reach, the <br />