CameronCreekISFProposalWithAttachmentsHCCA2022

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A water rights search on Colorado's Decision Support System (CDSS) did not identify any existing water rights on Cameron Creek. However,there is a privately held instream flow right for Cameron Creek.This private right appears in connection with Lottis Creek in Case No. W1987. There are privately held instream flow rights for Lottis Creek and three of its tributaries (Cameron, Cross, and Union creeks).The private instream flow right for Cameron Creek is 12.5 cfs.The priority date for these flows is 1910 and the beneficial use is for stock water, recreation,fish culture, wildlife procreation, and heritage preservation.This use was recognized as non-exclusive and to be used in common with the State of Colorado (See Case No.W-1987). Although these private flow rights are extensive,they do not afford the same protections offered by instream flow rights held by the CWCB. Rights held by the CWCB are monitored and enforced by CWCB staff and the State can join as a party to protect potential harm to these appropriations.They are non-transferable and cannot be sold.The water rights are summarized in Attachment B. Biological Summary The headwaters of Cameron Creek form above treeline as a cold-water, high gradient stream. Below the confluence with Burro Gulch,the slope of the valley decreases and Cameron Creek supports a healthy riparian area with several ponds on and off-channel in a large wetland area.There are both active and abandoned beaver ponds at several locations alongside the creek.The riparian area of the creek is primarily composed of willow communities.The confluence of Cameron and Lottis creeks also supports high-quality wetlands. Generally, Cameron Creek has gravel and cobble-sized substrate and ample woody debris. Flows from Cameron Creek support a robust riparian area that provides shade and cover for the extant fish community. While conducting R2Cross assessments, we saw numerous macroinvertebrates and small fish (unknown species). CPW surveyed Cameron Creek in October 2022 and found numerous brown and brook trout (Attachment C). Preliminary R2Cross Analysis HCCA relied on the expertise of Alpine Environmental Consultants LLC to interpret output from the R2Cross model and develop a preliminary instream flow recommendation that will protect Cameron Creek's natural environment to a reasonable degree. Two R2Cross field surveys were completed at one location on July 5 and September 17, 2021.The cross- section is in Cameron Creek approximately 0.4 miles upstream of the confluence with Lottis Creek. R2Cross data entry, analysis, and interpretation were completed following fieldwork.These data were used to create the preliminary instream flow recommendations for Cameron Creek(Table 2).The R2Cross output and field forms are attached for review (Attachment D). A summer flow rate of 1.4 cfs and a winter flow rate of 0.85 cfs are initially recommended based on the results of the 2021 cross-section (Table 2).