Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />U.B.DEf'ARTIlEI(fOFlllENTEflIO!t <br />IlUnE/IIJOFLNlD~,o.GEMENT <br /> <br />ON R(X)~'9~'ITO <br /> <br />7250 <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br /> <br />www.co,blm.gov <br /> <br />DEe ~ 2004 <br /> <br />Mr. Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream <br />flow recommendation for East Fork Dry Creek, located in Water Division 4. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status - East Fork Dry Creek is tributary to Dry Creek approximately 11 miles <br />southwest of Montrose. The stream reach covered by the surveys conducted on BLM lands runs from <br />the confluence with Beaver Dams Creek to the confluence with Dry Creek. Ofthe 10.00 mile reach, <br />approximately 52% is located on federal lands while the remaining 48% is privately owned. <br /> <br />Biological Summary - Fishery surveys indicate that the creek supports a self-sustaining brown trout <br />fishery. The stream environment is presently in excellent condition and provides suitable substrate, <br />cover, channel stability, and food supplies for salmonids. However, the stream is very steep and high <br />velocity, so pools and other feeding/spawning locations are limited. Accordingly, it is important to <br />protect stream flows that maintain the limited amount of physical habitat. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis - BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the <br />following flows are needed to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree. <br /> <br />3,60 cubic feet per second is recommended for the snowmelt runoff period from April 1 to June <br />30. This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. Meeting the average <br />velocity criteria is important for suitable habitat in the low gradient portions of this stream. It is <br />also important for maintaining low stream temperatures during the late summer and early fall. <br /> <br />1.60 cubic feet per second is recommended from July I to July 31 and from March 1 to March <br />31. This flow will provide a transition period between the snowmelt runoff flows and the very <br />low flow period from late summer through winter. <br /> <br />0.60 cubic feet per second is recommended from August I through February 28. BLM analysis <br />of flow regimes on the Uncompahgre Plateau shows that this is the amount of water typically <br />available in the stream during this time period. This flow will allow fish to survive in pools and <br />will prevent the riparian environment from being seriously stressed. <br />