Stream: Tabeguache Creek ‎(Upper Segement)‎ Executive Summary

• Description: Stream: Tabeguache Creek ‎(Upper Segement)‎ Executive Summary
• State: CO
• Water Division: 4
• Title: Stream: Tabeguache Creek ‎(Upper Segement)‎ Executive Summary
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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 recommended this segment of Tabeguache Creek to
the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Tabeguache 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.
Tabeguache Creek is approximately 27.5 miles long. It begins within the Uncompahgre National
Forest at an elevation of 9,840 feet and generally flows in a westerly direction until it terminates
at the confluence with the San Miguel River at an elevation of 5,010 feet. Approximately 74%
of the land on the 5.4 -mile segment addressed by this report is publicly owned. Tabeguache
Creek is located within Montrose County and the total drainage area of the creek is
approximately 152 square miles.
The subject of this report is a segment of Tabeguache Creek beginning at the confluence with
Fortyseven Creek and extending downstream to the headgate of Templeton Ditch. The proposed
segment is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Naturita. Staff has received one joint
recommendation for this segment, from the BLM & CDOW. The recommendation for this
segment is discussed below.
Instream Flow Recommendations
The BLM recommended 4.75 cfs (April - June 30), 1.9 cfs (July 1 - November 30), 1.6 cfs
(December 1 - March 31) based on its data collection efforts, staff's water availability analyses
and information provided by local stakeholders.
Land Status Review
Upper Terminus
Lower Terminus
Total Length
(miles)
Land Ownership
% Private
% Public
Confluence with
Headgate of
5.4
26%
74%
Fort seven Creek
Templeton Ditch
100% of the public lands are owned by the BLM.
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