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I Stream: Northwater Creek tit Segment: Raspberry Creek to Trapper Creek Executive Summary upper Terminus: Raspberry Creek at (Lati1ude 390 36' 37") (Longitude 107058' 14") Lower Terminus: Trapper Creek at (Latitude 390 37' 20") (Longitude 1080 00' 42") Counties: Garfield Length: 2.7 Miles USGS Quad(s): Anvil Points and Forked Gulch Flow Recommendation: 5.2 cfs (April 15 - May 31) (4.2 cfs - Enlargement) 4.0 cfs (June I - June 30) (3.0 cfs - Enlargement) Summary The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder for Northwater Creek forms the basis for staff's instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staff's opinion that the information contained is this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule 5.40. e Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of 1he natural environment" (see S 37-92-102 (3) C.R.S.). The statue vests the CWCB with the exclusive to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake-level water rights. In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the statue directs the CWCB to request ins1ream flow recommenda1ions from other state and federal agencies. The Bureau of Land Managemen1 (BLM) recommended this segment to the CWCB for an enlargement of its existing instream flow of I cfs. The BLM is very interested in protecting the streamflows in this area because in November of 1997, the U.S. Congress transferred managemen1 of the Navel Oil Shale Reserve from the Department of Energy to the BLM. Congress directed the BLM to manage the area for multiple uses, while simultaneously protecting the area's unique resource values. Northwater Creek is a tributary of the Middle Fork ofParachu1e Creek and is approximately 6.4 miles long. It begins West of the Roan Cliffs, at an eleva1ion of approximately 8,850 feet, and terminates at the confluence with Trapper Creek, at an elevation of approximately 7,980 feet. It is located on the Naval Oil Shale Reserve, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in Garfield County. The total drainage a:'ea of Northwater Creek is approximately 12.6 square miles. Northwater Creek generally flows in an east to west direction. e The subject ofthis report is a 2.7 mile segment of North water Creek beginning at the confluence with Raspberry Creek and extending downstream to the confluence with Trapper Creek. This segment is located northwest of the City of Rifle. The CWCB currently holds a decreed instream flow water right on this reach of stream for 1.0 cfs year-round (Case No. 5-85CW635). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommended this segment to the CWCB for an enlargement of its existing instream flow of I cfs. That recommendation is discussed in detail below.