BOARD01176

• Board Meeting Date: 3/26/2001
• Description: ISF Section - New Appropriations
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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IN !lBPIX REFt1R TO:

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Colorado State Office
2850 Youngfield Street
Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093

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www.co.blm.gov

CO-932
7200

FEB 2 1 2001

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FEe 22 2001
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Mr. Daniel Memman
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203

Dear Mr. Merriman:

. The Bureau ofLand Management (BLM) is writing this letter to support the instream flow appropriation
made by the Colorado Water Conservation Board on the upper Yampa River between Stagecoach Reservoir
and Lake Catamount. The BLM owns and manages approximately three-fourths of a mile along the river in
this reach. In the northern part of the state, this parcel is one of the few locations where BLM manages land
along a major river at a higher elevation location.

Because of the high quality fishery, the BLM parcel supports significant fishing and camping. BLM
estimates that approximately 900 to 1000 anglers utilize the BLM parcel each year during the five-month
season when anglers can easily reach the stream channel. Even though this is an isolated parcel, BLM's land
management plans call for retention of the parcel because 'of the significant resource values and high public
usage.

BLM's preliminary assessments of the riparian community indicate that it is in stable condition, with an
extensive community of blue spruce and red osier dogwood. Protection of flows is a critical ingredient in
maintaining a resilient riparian community, especially wh~n the banks of the stream receive significant usage
by anglers seeking fishing holes. Because of this, BLM supports the larger instream flow appropriation on
peak flows that stream receives from Morrison Creek and Service Creek.

BLM appreciates the interest of the Division of Wildlife and the Board in maintaining flows in this reach,
and the extensive field work that has been done to support this appropriation. If there are any local public
meetings to discuss this appropriation, BLM personnel would be pleased to attend to support the
recommendation and to answer any questions about our long-term management plans for this parcel. In the
future, BLM is interested in working with the Board and Division of Wildlife to secure an appropriation on
Morrison Creek, where BLM manages approximately one mile of the stream.