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STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Russell George, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297 -1192 <br />10 December 2001 <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Mr. Mark Uppendahl <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />Stream and Lake Protection Section <br />1313 Sherman Street, Suite 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Subj: CDOW Review of TU Instream Flow Recommendations for the South Fork of the South Platte <br />River <br />Dear Dan and Mark: <br />For Wildlife - <br />For People <br />The Division of Wildlife appreciates the opportunity to review the instream flow recommendations for the South Fork of the South <br />Platte River that have been submitted to you by Colorado Trout Unlimited. The stream reach that CTU is interested in runs <br />through Knight -Imler State Wildlife Area and the Sweetwater Ranch property above Antero Reservoir. CDOW is very familiar <br />with this section of river as we have owned the above referenced SWA for many years and more recently we have been very <br />involved with the current landowner, Bill Gordon, to improve trout habitat conditions on his property. Since its establishment, <br />the Knight-Imier SWA has supported hundereds of thousands of recreation user days. As you can see from the most recent fishery <br />survey (attached) that this section of the South Fork of the South Platte River has a very heathy trout population. <br />We have reviewed the stream cross section data and the associated R2CROSS runs that CTU's consultant, Miller Ecological <br />Consultants has provided to the Board. We also have reviewed the supporting data the CWCB staff collected in November, 2001. <br />The R2CROSS data appears to be collected and analyzed in a manner consistent with the currently accepted procedures. The <br />biological flow recommendations that have been developed from the R2CROSS data appear to be appropriate and consistent with <br />accepted and current practice described in both Nehring (1979) and Espegren (1996). The Division of Wildlife therefore concurs <br />with the winter flow recommendation for 4.4 cfs and the summer flow recommendation for 10 cfs. The Division agrees with CTU <br />that these flows are necessary to preserve the natural environment of the South Fork of the South Platte River to a reasonable <br />degree. <br />Sincerely, <br />Jay W. Skinner <br />CDOW Instream Flow Program Coordinator <br />cc: David Nicicum, CTU <br />Steve Puttmann, CDOW <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg E. Welcher, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Rick Enstrom, Chair • Robert Shoemaker, Vice -Chair • Marianna Raftopoulos, Secretary <br />Members, Bemard Black • Tom Burke • Philip James • Brad Phelps • Olive Valdez <br />Ex-Officio Members, Greg E. Walcher and Don Ament <br />