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T ROUT <br />UNLIMITED <br />John Roach, Ph.D. <br />Aquatics Specialist <br />Colorado Water Project <br />1320 Pearl Street, Suite 320 <br />Boulder, CO 80302 <br />303.440.2937 <br />February 21, 2007 <br />Mr. Jeff Baessler and Mr. Todd Doherty <br />Stream and Lake Protection Section <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 723 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Re: Trout Unlimited Instream Flow Recommendations for Severy Creek. <br />Dear Mr. Baessler and Mr. Doherty, <br />Trout Unlimited (TU) in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) is <br />formally submitting this instream flow recommendation for Severy Creek, located in El <br />Paso and Teller Counties, Water Division 2. <br />Location and Land Status. Severy Creek is approximately 4.0 miles long. It originates <br />on the flank of Pike's Peak at approximately 11,500 feet and terminates at its confluence <br />with Cascade Creek at an elevation of 8,400 feet. The proposed reach ends just above an <br />aqueduct that crosses Severy creek about 0.03 miles above its confluence with Cascade <br />Creek. Of the 4.0 mile segment proposed for protection, approximately 75% (3.0 miles) <br />is located U.S. Forest Service land and another 22% (0.85 miles) is held by Colorado <br />Springs Utilities, a community owned utility. Only 2.5% (0.10 miles) is in private <br />ownership. <br />Biological Summary and 112CROSS Analysis. In July 2006 TU and CDOW collected <br />stream cross sectional data, natural environment data, and other data needed to quantify <br />Instream Flow needs. Additional fishery surveys conducted in 1998 by the CDOW <br />indicate that the stream supports a self - sustaining population of genetically pure <br />greenback cutthroat trout. The existence of this threatened species in Severy Creek makes <br />conservation of the stream particularly important. The brook trout below a fish barrier in <br />lower Severy Creek further enhances the biologic value of the stream. <br />Stream cross sectional data were analyzed using the R2CROSS program, and the output <br />evaluated using the methods described in Nehring (1979) and Espegren (1996). Based on <br />this analysis and the available biological data Trout Unlimited and CDOW recommend <br />that the CWCB appropriate the following flow amounts to preserve the natural <br />environment of Severy Creek to a reasonable degree: <br />