Stream: San Miguel River Executive Summary

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For this study, 7 one - dimensional cross - sections were linked to produce the series of rectangular cells that formed the grid to estimate WUA. Mean depth and velocity conditions were calculated for each cell at 4 different measured flows (100, 175, 325 and 450 cfs). Habitat suitability criteria (HSC) were developed from the 2003 Riverine Fish Flow Investigation Study Report (Federal Aid Project F- 289 -R6) written and performed by Richard Anderson, CDOW Aquatic Researcher, and Gregory Stewart, Department of Geosciences Oregon State University. The basis for this study was a 1999 request from the CWCB for the CDOW to provide biologically justified instream flow recommendations for the Yampa and Colorado Rivers based on habitat and flow requirements for non - endangered native fish. Anderson and Stewart used two — dimensional (2D) modeling to develop habitat suitability criteria for bluehead and flannelmouth suckers, two native species. Their methods and results are more fully described in Anderson and Stewart (2003) and Stewart and Anderson (2005) and (2006). The bluehead and flannelmouth sucker habitat suitability criteria were used to develop specific hydraulic criteria that were incorporated into a PHABSIM/RHABSIM analysis. Stewart and Anderson determined that "Abundance of bluehead sucker was a reliable indicator for instream flows and habitat maintenance for the native fish assemblage. In the Colorado, Gunnison and Yampa Rivers bluehead sucker habitat peaked at flows of 600 to 1,200 cfs. This flow range also resulted in high habitat diversity and high native fish biomass. Their assumption that flows that maintained adequate bluehead sucker abundance (about 25% of fish over 15 cm) would also maintain adequate flannelmouth sucker and roundtail chub habitat was validated by this study." CDOW and BLM determined for this flow recommendation that the bluehead sucker would be the primary indicator species for the biologically based instream flow recommendation with the flannelmouth sucker being the secondary indicator species. The main reason for this is bluehead sucker abundance is directly related to availability and quality of riffle habitats. The primary objective of most cross section methodologies, including R2CROSS, is to maintain quality riffles. Riffles are the most vulnerable habitat to dewatering and are important for invertebrate productivity. When riffle habitats are maintained, there should be sufficient habitats for perpetuating carrying capacity (biomass) and composition for all members of the native fish assemblage (Nehring 1979). To verify the flow recommendations, CDOW and BLM compared results from their PHABSIM/RHABSIM study with results using the R2CROSS Methodology with standard criteria. Biological Flow Recommendation DOW and BLM staff, using a combination of PHABSIM/RHABSIM and R2CROSS methodologies, developed the proposed instream flow recommendations for the San Miguel River. Board staff relied upon the biological expertise of the cooperating agencies to interpret the output from the PHABSIM/RHABSIM and R2CROSS Methodologies to develop the initial biologic instream flow recommendations. These initial recommendations are designed to address the unique biologic requirements of each stream without regard to water availability. In addition to the criteria developed using the PHABSIM Methodology and RHABSIM Software, the three standard instream flow hydraulic -5-