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<br />r:;. <br /> <br /> <br />IN RFP1.Y I{I';I'LR TO; <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State OtIice <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br />U.S,DEPAR'TNENTOFTliElmEfUOR <br />BUR~,\UOI'LANC'M^NAGCMa<f <br /> <br />-----~'-,~-'~ <br /> <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7200 <br /> <br />'I.\lU~ <br />\)~C \. Q <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sberman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br /> <br />The Bl\Ceau of Land Management (ELM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow <br />recommendation for North East Creek, located in Water Division 4, <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. The North East Creek watershed is located approximately six miles southwest <br />of Whitewater. The stream reach that was surveyed begins downstream of King Reservoir and runs 11.5 <br />miles downstream to the confluence with East Creek. Approximately 57 percent of the reach is owned and <br />managed by BLM, while the remaining 43 percent is in private ownership. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is in good condition and <br />supports a self-sustaining rainbow trout and speckled dace fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, and <br />water quality are excellent for salmonids. However, limiting factors in this stream include a limited supply of <br />spawning substrates and occasionally high stream temperatures. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the <br />following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree: <br /> <br />. 5.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 31 high temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the depth criteria. Meeting the depth criteria is important for <br />insuring that the fish population has sufficient access to spawning gravels. <br /> <br />. 1. 0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November 1 to March 31 low temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the wetted perimeter criteria. Given the paucity of pools in the <br />lower parts of the reach, adequate physical habitat elsewhere in the stream is especially important <br />during winter. <br /> <br />Water Availahility. There are numerous decreed water rights upstream of this reach, but it is not clear <br />whether any of these rights divert regularly. There are two water rights located within the reach, including the <br />Helmke Ditch (0.89 cfs) and the Bradbury Ditch (0.91 cfs). Since these diversions are small and appear to <br />have short diversion seasons, BLM does not recommend using them as a lower terminus for the <br />recommended reach. <br />