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<br />IN RFPI.Y RUfER 1'0. <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood. Colorado 80215.7093 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />www.co.blm.goy <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7200 <br /> <br />nEe 1 6 'lOQa <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Shennan Street, Room 721 <br />Denyer, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow <br />recommendation for North Fork West Creek, located in Water Division 4. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. The North Fork West Creek watershed is located approximately six miles <br />northeast of Gateway. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at the confluence with Two V Gulch and <br />runs 5.6 miles downstream to the confluence with West Creek. Approximately 56 percent of the reach is <br />owned and managed by BLM, while the remaining 44 percent is in priyate ownership. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Fishe1Y surveys indicate that the stream environment is in good condition and <br />supports a self-sustaining rainbow trout and speckled dace fishe1Y. Channel stability, bank stability, and <br />water quality are excellent for salmonids. However, the limiting factor on this creek is the steepness of the <br />channel, which results in low quantities of pool habitat. In addition, this creek has a yery large substrate size, <br />so locations with suitable spawning grayels are limited. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Diyision of Wildlife, indicates that the <br />following flows are required to protect the fishe1Y and natural environment to a reasonable degree: <br /> <br />. 3,7 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 31 high temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the ayerage velocity criteria. Meeting the velocity criteria is <br />important for insuring optimal spawning conditions in the limited amount of spawning habitat. <br /> <br />. 0.8 cubic feet per second is recommended for the Noyember 1 to March 31 low temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the average depth criteria. Giyen the large substrate size of this <br />channel, it is important to haye sufficient depths to allow fish to move from pool to pool during the <br />winter, <br /> <br />-r;- <br />