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<br />. <br /> <br />very interested in protecting stream flows because Spring Creek has been stocked with rainbow <br />trout in the past and the stream supports a healthy riparian zone and a good population of aquatic <br />macro invertebrates. Spring source streams such as these tend to support a wide variety of <br />wildlife species, especially during the winter months, due to the fact that spring water is warm <br />enough (even during the coldest months of the winter) to remain open. Fish in spring water <br />streams have a tendency to grow at a fairly high rate once again due to the warmer water <br />temperatures. <br /> <br />Spring Creek is a tributary of East Muddy Creek a tributary of the North Fork of the Gunnison <br />River. This stream is approximately 4.0 miles long. Spring Creek originates northeast of <br />Paonia at approximately 9,470 feet and terminates at the confluence with East Muddy Creek at <br />approximately 6,800 feet. The creek is located in Gunnison County. The total drainage area <br />of the creek is approximately 4.8 square miles. Spring Creek generally flows in a westerly <br />direction. There are no significant tributaries to the creek within the reach. The subject of this <br />report is a 0.8 mile segment of Spring Creek beginning at the outlet of a Spring and extending to <br />the Downing Ditch (see Figure I). This segment is located northeast of the Town ofPaonia. To <br />date, the staff has received only one recommendation for this reach. However, the United States <br />Forest Service (USFS) has filed a water rights application on the spring for 7.5 cfs. The USFS <br />proposed uses include irrigation, wildlife, fisheries and stock watering. The CWCB has filed a <br />Statement of Opposition to this application based on the fact the USFS is not diverting the water <br />and the CWCB's exclusive authority to appropriate water to preserve the natural environment to <br />a reasonable degree. <br /> <br />Instream Flow Recommendation(s) <br />The CDOW has recommended a 2.7 cfs summer flow and a 0.8 cfs winter flow. <br /> <br />. Land Status Review <br /> <br /> Total Length Land Ownershio <br />Upper Terminus Lower Terminus (miles) % Private % Public <br />Spring Outlet Downing Ditch 0.8 0% 100% <br /> <br />This segment is approximately 100% public land and 0% private land. 100% of the public land <br />is managed by the USFS (See attached Figure I). <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Biological Data <br /> <br />The CD OW has conducted field surveys of the fishery resources on this stream and have found a <br />natural environment that can be preserved. As reported for this reach of stream in CDOW'S <br />recommendation letter to the CWCB, "Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment <br />supports a rainbow and brook trout population (See CD OW Fish Survey in Appendix B). The <br />survey notes that lower Spring Creek suffers from low streamflows due to upstream diversions <br />for irrigation. The stream supports a healthy riparian zone and a good population of aquatic <br />macroinvertebrates; fish were also observed at the time of our visit. Spring source streams such <br />as these tend to support a wide variety of wildlife species, especially during the winter months, <br />due to the fact that spring water is warm enough (even during the coldest months of the winter) <br />to remain open. Fish in spring water streams have a tendency to grow at a fairly high rate once <br />again due to the warmer water temperatures. Based on all of this information, the Division of <br />Wildlife believes that there is adequate evidence that a natural environment exists in Spring <br />Creek and that that natural environment will benefit from instream flow protection by the <br />CWCB. <br />