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<br />I'fRI+'LY REJ-.ER TO <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngticld Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7200 <br /> <br />DEe 1 7 2003 <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 <br />instream flow recommendation for Currant Creek, located in Water Division 2. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. The Currant Creek watershed is located approximately 30 miles <br />east of Buena Vista. Two stream reaches were surveyed. The first stream begins at the <br />confluence with Thirtyone Mile Creek and runs 6.9 miles downstream to the confluence with <br />Mill Gulch. Approximately 68% of this reach is owned and managed by BLM, while the <br />remaining 32% is in private ownership. The second reach begins at the confluence with Mill <br />Gulch and runs 15.8 miles downstream to the confluence with Cottonwood Creek. <br />Approximately 37% of this reach is owned and managed by BLM, while the remaining 63% is in <br />private ownership. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable <br />condition, and supports a self-sustaining brook trout and white head sucker fishery. In the <br />portions of the reaches managed by BLM, the stream provides good food supplies, pools, channel <br />stability, bank stability, and substrate for salmonids. However, the fishery is limited by a lack of <br />cover, occasional high water temperatures, and by bank erosion and silt in some locations. Late <br />summer and fall flows are adequate to support fisheries, but further diversion could endanger the <br />fish population. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates <br />that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a <br />reasonable degree: <br />