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<br />....y~ ~...:::J UU U...:::J. ~o,.. <br /> <br />UJJ..1U.1.1Tt:' Ivurl'::>t:'r-v~ <br /> <br />..1U.:Jc::;::,!('"t;:)l;:) <br /> <br />p."t <br /> <br />J I\"~ ~ <br /> <br />fish within and outside of the impacted rea<:;h. Within the Oxbow Ponds reach, 5.0. Company installed 40 <br />. structures, ~l of which arc specifically designed to create fish habitat. These structures provide vegetati va <br />structural diversity, waterfowl habitat, fisherics over wintering and nursery habitat, and rnacroinvertebrate <br />breeding areas. To maximize lhe potential of the Oxbow Pond reach a continuous <()uree of water is <br />necessary. This water will provide 0 If channel fish.,'TIes habitat and a fish migration connection to the Blue <br />River. Dissolved oxygen samples taken in the first 3 oxbows during the wimer of 2005 indicated oxygen <br />d.'plction in lhese ponds due to the lack of tlow-through water. No other source of water is available tor this <br />[)roject CXCl)pt the Blue River. <br /> <br />The CDOW believes the project has increased aquatic habitat in the Blue River and the Oxbow Pond, <br />therefore providing additional fish refuge areas during times onower flows. Fishery surveys indicate total <br />fish biomass has increased significantly after the Blue River habitat improvements. The stream habitat <br />improvement structurc~ also should provide increased channel stability. <br /> <br />CDOW Recommendation <br />The CDOW has reviewed I) the biologieall11ld hydrological data collected to date; 2) the stream habitat <br />improvements completed by Queen of the River Fisheries Consultants, and 3) discussed future water <br />availability scenarios with the CWCB staff Historic hydrologic rl-'C<mls indicate flows in the Blue River <br />e><:ce,,'llcd the Board's decreed instrerun flow amounts over 95% of the time, in this reach. Historic records <br />do not guarantee the flows will continue. but they do provide a good idea on what can be cltpccted to occur <br />in the future. Based on the amount of stream habitat impron"lllents completed, the documented increase in <br />Ihe fish biomass and the low frequency in which thc Board's instream flow amounts will be impacted, the <br />CDOW rccqmmcnds that the CWCB approve the attached pr()posed flow-sharing agreement and mitigation <br />plan. <br /> <br />The CDOW is forwarding this recommendation to the CWCB to meet the State of Colorado's policy"... <br />. that the wildlife and their eIlVironmclnl arc to be protected. preserved. enhanced, and managed for the use. <br />benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its visitors... and that, to carry out such program and <br />policy, there shall be a continuous operation of planning, acquisition, and development of wildlife habitats <br />and facilities for wildlife-rt'laled opporrunities" c.R.S. 33-1-101 (I). The CDOW Stralegic Plan slalcs <br />"Healthy aquatic environments are essential to maintain healthy and viable fisheries, and critical for sclf- <br />sustaining populations. The Division desires 10 protect and enhance the quality and quantity of aquatic <br />habitat~." <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Sent by email <br /> <br />Mark Uppendahl <br />Colorado Division Of Wildlife <br />Instream Flow Program Coordinator <br /> <br />Ce: Jay Skinner, CDOW Water Unit Program MrulageJ' - wlo attachments <br />Shel1"an Hcbein, CDOW Senior Fish Biologist - West Regions - w/o attachments <br />Bill Atkinson, CDOW Aquatic Biologist - wI" attachments <br />Shannon Schwah, cnow DWM Area 9 - wlo attachments <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />'If' <br />