San Juan Dolores Draft Instream Flow Recommendation

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r YOrr� O / S'iPr. -sfI DRAFT INSTREAM FLOW RECOMMENDATION Date Ms. Linda Bassi Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Ms. Bassi: The Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow recommendation for the lower Dolores River, between the confluence with the San Miguel River and the confluence with West Creek near the town of Gateway. The importance of this stream reach has led to cooperation between the BLM and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)to document the natural environment in this stream reach and to implement cooperative studies to determine the flow rates needed to support the natural environment. This portion of the river is known to provide habitat for flannelmouth sucker,bluehead sucker, and roundtail chub. The BLM and CPW are signatories to a multi-state conservation agreement designed to protect and enhance habitat for these species,with the objective of preventing a listing of these species under the Endangered Species Act. Establishment of instream flow protection for streams known to provide habitat for the species is identified as a priority conservation action under this agreement. In addition, the BLM has identified habitat for the three species as an"outstandingly remarkable value" as part of BLM's evaluation of this river pursuant to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Broadly-based stakeholder groups have also recommended to BLM that water-dependent values be protected on this stream reach. An independently-formed stakeholder group, which analyzed streams in the Grand Junction Field Office planning area, recommended that the portion of the Dolores River in Mesa County be protected by a state-based instream flow water right. A broad- based stakeholder group convened by BLM's Resource Advisory Council, which analyzed streams in Montrose County, recommended that 4.2 miles of this stream reach in Montrose County be determined as "suitable" for designation into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Protection of instream flows on this section of the Dolores River will also support a major partnership effort to restore riparian habitat along the river. The Dolores Restoration Partnership has treated more than 415 acres of tamarisk, Siberian elm, and weeds along this reach of the river. In addition to the BLM, the partnership includes CPW, The Nature Conservancy, The Walton Foundation, the Tamarisk Coalition, Colorado Department of Transportation, Montrose County, Mesa County, and multiple youth conservation corps. To date, the partnership has invested more than $550,000 in restoring this reach of the river. The partnership predicts that an additional $575,000 will be expended within this reach in future years on follow-up treatments, monitoring, and long-term maintenance of treated lands. These future expenditures include a $100,000 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB).