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<br />- 2- <br /> <br />TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS <br /> <br />tit <br /> <br />The Board was provided detailed information regar,ding all field data, studies and analyses for each <br />stream segment at the January 23, 2002, Board meeting. At that meeting, the Board declared its <br />intent to appropriate the subject ISF water rights. <br /> <br />Chanl!es to Oril!inal ISF Recommendation <br /> <br />Based on additional data and on information provided by the parties, the Staff recommends that the <br />Board make the following changes to the ISF recommendation: <br /> <br />Specie Creek <br /> <br />Unnamed tributarv to the San Miguel River. Staff recommends that the attached language agreed to <br />by the parties and approved by the Hearing Officer be included in the water court decree for this <br />segment. <br /> <br />Natural Environment Studies <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) along with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) <br />have conducted field surveys of the fishery resources on Specie Creek and found a natural <br />environment which can be preserved. To quantify the resources and to evaluate instream flow <br />requirements, the CDOW and BLM staff collected biologic and hydraulic data, and the CWCB staff <br />reviewed and analyzed this data. In addition, staff reviewed all the data and comments provided by ... <br />all of the Parties and Participants in the Contested Cases. Based on the results of these . <br />reviews/analyses, the CWCB staff prepared its Final Recommendation for the amount of water <br />necessary to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree for Specie Creek (see attached <br />Final Instream Flow Recommendation). <br /> <br />Water A vailabilitv Studies <br />The CWCB staff has conducted an evaluation of water availability for this stream. To determine the <br />amount of water physically available for the BO!\rd's appropriation, the staff analyzed available <br />USGS gage records, available streamflow models, jand/or utilized appropriate standard methods to <br />develop a hydrograph of median monthly flows. The staff relied upon the data submitted by all the <br />Parties into the record to determine the amount of water physically available for appropriation. <br />Based upon its analysis, the staff has determined that water is available for appropriation on Specie <br />Creek to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree without limiting or foreclosing the <br />exercise of valid existing rights. <br /> <br />RELEVANT INSTREAM FLOW RULES <br /> <br />For Specie Creek, the staff recommends that the Board proceed as requested above and as provided <br />in Instream Flow Rules 5.23, 5.40 and 5.56: <br /> <br />5.23 Date of Appropriation. The Board may select an appropriation date that may be no earlier than <br />the date the Board declares its intent to appropriate.' The Board may declare its intent to appropriate <br />when it concludes that it has received sufficient iriformation that reasonably supports the findings e <br />required in Rule 5.40. <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and. Financing. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />