Stream: Cochetopa Creek (Lower Segement) Executive Summary

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Staff Analysis and Recommendation Summary The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder forms the basis for staff's instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staff's opinion that the information contained in this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule 5.40. Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of the natural environment" (see 37 -92 -102 (3) C.R.S.). The statute vests the CWCB with the exclusive authority to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake level water rights. In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the statute directs the CWCB to request instream flow recommendations from other state and federal agencies. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommended this segment of Cochetopa Creek to the CWCB for an increased water right under the Instream Flow Program. Cochetopa Creek is being considered for an increase because it has a natural environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an increased instream flow water right. Cochetopa Creek is approximately 52.5 miles long. Cochetopa Creek originates on the eastern flank of San Luis Peak at an elevation of 12,500 feet and flows generally north as it drops to an elevation of 7,660 feet at its confluence with Tomichi Creek. Approximately 60 percent of the land on the 12.92 mile segment addressed by this report is on federal lands. Cochetopa Creek is located within Saguache County. The subject of this report is a segment of Cochetopa Creek beginning at the confluence with Alkali Creek and extending downstream to the headgate of the South Krueger Ditch. The proposed segment is located approximately 8 miles southeast of Gunnison. Staff has received one recommendation for this segment, from the BLM. The recommendation for this segment is discussed below. Justification for Instream Flow Increase The Cochetopa Creek channel is large, with riffles typically ranging from 30 to 40 feet in width. The channel is also characterized by medium to large size substrate, which tends to reduce water velocities. Substantial flow rates are required to maintain sufficient depth and velocity for salmonids in this type of environment. BLM believes the reason that the creek supports a healthy and productive fishery is that the creek very consistently experiences significantly more water than the current instream flow appropriation. During the warm weather period of May through mid- November, gage data reveal the creek experiences flows that are typically three to ten times the current insteam flow water right. According to the data collected by BLM, the current instream flow water rights is capable of meeting two of the three instream flow criteria during the winter. However, the current instream flow water right is not capable of meeting three of three instream flow criteria during summer, -2-