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1 <br />1 <br />INTRODUCTION <br />IColorado Trout Unlimited and the property owner asked Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc and <br />I Ayres Associates to conduct studies for stream habitat improvement and minimum flow <br />determinations on a section of the South Fork of the South Platte River upstream from Antero <br />Reservoir, Colorado. The study area is located approximately 1 mile downstream of the US 285 <br />I highway bridge crossing (Figures 1 and 2) in Park County, Colorado. Figure 3 shows typical <br />habitat characteristics of the South Fork of the South Platte River within the study reach. <br />I This section of stream was subject to cattle grazing until four years ago. The streamside <br />vegetation consists of mainly native grasses with some growth of shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla <br />sp). and willow (Salix sp.) on upland areas. Willow regeneration was also evident on mid- <br />' channel islands and several stream meander bends. <br />The objective of this study is to determine the minimum winter and summer stream flows based <br />1 upon the criteria used by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. <br />1 METHODS <br />1 Field Data Collection <br />1 The following sequence outlines the field measurements at each study site. Field data was <br />collected on 26 September 2000 by personnel from Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc., Ayres <br />Associates and Trout Unlimited (Tom Thomas, volunteer). The main criteria for transect <br />Iselection will be those listed in Bovee (1982). This was refined by use of the "habitat mapping" <br />approach that is now the preferred field methodology (Bovee 1989). <br />IHabitat mapping Habitat mapping was conducted from the lower Sweetwater Ranch fence <br />boundary upstream to the upper fenceline using a protocol developed by the Pike -San Isabel <br />I National Forest (Winters and Bennet 1994). This technique separates the stream into individual <br />habitat units of glide, riffle or pool. The technique quantifies areas of the individual habitats, <br />eroding bank, and stream cover. Total stream distance, individual habitat unit distance, and <br />Iaverage and maximum depth are also recorded for the reach. <br />Transect placement Transects (5 total) were placed in riffle (3), glide (1), and pool (1) habitats <br />I in the section determined (by professional judgment) to be the most likely area to need stream <br />habitat improvements completed. The habitats selected were typical of the habitat as determined <br />by the habitat mapping. <br />1 <br />1 <br />Minimum Flow Study, South Fork of the South Platte River — Final Report Page 1 <br />IFebruary 19, 2001 <br />