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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The Division of Wildlife started working on instream flow quantification efforts in the Bear Creek <br />basin in the mid- and late-1980's. The work plan that was developed cooperatively by the CWCB <br />staff and the Division included both the main stem and the tributaries. Based on that work plan <br />the Central Region's aquatic section set about collecting cross section information and fishery <br />information to submit to the CWCB for processing. The data package was transmitted to the <br />CWCB in the late 1980's but due to workload and personnel changes, the Bear Creek instream <br />flow recommendations were never processed. In early 1994, the Bear Creek effort was initiated <br />again. The Bear Creek instream flows were noticed as preliminary in May, 1994 and presented to <br />the CWCB for final approval in September, 1994. At the September, 1994 meeting, the CWCB <br />approved a portion of the filings but had some remaining questions on some of the flow <br />recommendations. The purpose of this document is to address those remaining biological and <br />technical questions. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />NATURALENVlRONMENTSTUDms <br /> <br />The Division conducted natural environment studies on all of the streams in the Bear Creek basin. <br />Each ofthe streams were electro fished; fish were measured, sorted by specie, and returned to the <br />stream. These studies document the existence of a natural environment. <br /> <br />CHANNEL CROSS SECTION MEASUREMENTS <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Representative critical riffles for each stream reach were selected by the field crews for each of <br />the instream flow segments identified in the work plan. The cross section measurements were <br />conducted utilizing standard CDOW and CWCB protocol. The field data was processed using <br />the CWCB's R2CROSS program. The Division made instream flow recommendations to the <br />CWCB staff based on the needs of the fishery. <br /> <br />WATER AVAILABILITY STUDIES <br /> <br />Water availability studies were conducted by the CWCB staff for each of the instream flow <br />segments. The CWCB staff utilizes a variety of hydrologic methods to examine water availability <br />issues; in addition, they consult with water users, Division of Water Resources staff, and others <br />who might have information relating to both physical and legal water availability. Jfthe water <br />availability analyses conducted by the CWCB staff identifies a water availability issue in conflict <br />with the Division's initial flow recommendation, the Division is then asked to review the data in <br />light of water availability and make a detennination if the natural environment can be protected <br />with the water available. For several of the proposed instream flow segments the Division <br />subsequent adjustments due to water availability issues had to be made; these adjustments resulted <br />in changes in segment termini, changes in flow amounts, and changes in flow seasons. All of <br />these changes are well documented in each instream flow segment case file. e <br />