Stream: Cochetopa Creek (Upper 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 inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Cochetopa Creek is being considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an 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 80 percent of the land on the 7.54 mile segment addressed by this report is publicly owned. Cochetopa Creek is located within Saguache County The subject of this report is a segment of Cochetopa Creek beginning at the confluence with Nutras Creek and extending downstream to the Mesa Ditch headgate. 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. Instream Flow Recommendation The BLM recommended 11.3 cfs (May 16 — Augustl5), 7.5 cfs (August 16 — September 30), 4.5 cfs (October 1— November 15), 2.75 cfs (November 16 — March 15) and 5.0 cfs (March 16 — May 15). These recommendations were based on their data collection efforts and staff's water availability analyses. Land Status Review Upper Terminus Lower Terminus Total Length (miles) Land Ownership % Private % Public Confluence w/ Mesa Ditch 8.98 20% 80% Nutras Creek Head ate Approximately 90% of the public lands are managed the U.S. Forest Service and 10% are managed by the BLM. -2-