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<br /> <br />IN REPLY IU;FER '10 <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngtield Street <br />Lakewood. Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7100 <br /> <br />DEe 1 6 2003 <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 711 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to fonnally communicate its instream flow <br />recommendation for Potter Creek,located in Water Division 4. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. The Potter Creek watershed is located approximately ten miles southwest of <br />Delta. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at the BLM-U.S. Forest Service boundary and extends 9,0 <br />miles downstream to the confluence with Roubideau Creek. Approximately 92 percent of the reach is owned <br />and managed by BLM, while the remaining 8 percent is in private ownership. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable condition <br />and supports a self-sustaining speckled dace fishery. This stream also provides spawning habitat for <br />sensitive cool water fishes, such as the long-nose sucker. Channel stability, bank stability, and substrate are <br />good for supporting a fish population. However, the fishery is limited by lack of cover in some locations and <br />by occasional high temperatures and low stream flows. Accordingly, it is important to provide stream flows <br />that protect the limited amount of available habitat if the continued existence of the fishery is to be assured. <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 />. 4.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 31 high temperature period. <br />This recommendation is driven by the velocity criteria. Meeting the velocity criteria is important <br />because the stream lacks cover in some reaches and water temperatures can become high. <br /> <br />. 1.8 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 />II <br />