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<br />2 <br /> <br />Thirtvone Mile Creek to Mill Gulch Reach <br /> <br />1.90 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 31 high <br />temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the average depth and average <br />velocity criteria. Meeting the depth criteria is important for insuring that the fish <br />population has access to spawning gravels. In addition, the stream habitat tends to be <br />wide and shallow, so slight reductions in flow can cut off access to significant amounts of <br />habitat. Meeting the velocity criteria is important for insuring that stream temperatures <br />do not become excessively high in the late summer and early fall. <br /> <br />1.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November 1 to March 31 low <br />temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the depth criteria. Some portions <br />of this reach have few pools and maintaining depth is critical for providing physical <br />habitat during winter. <br /> <br />Mill Gulch to Cottonwood Creek Reach <br /> <br />2.00 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 31 high <br />temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the average depth criteria. <br />Meeting the depth criteria is important for insuring that the fish population has access to <br />spawning gravels. <br /> <br />1.40 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November 1 to March 3110w <br />temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. <br /> <br />Water Availability. BLM is not aware of any decreed diversions in upper reach from Thirtyone <br />Mile Creek to Mill Gulch. In the lower reach from Mill Gulch to Cottonwood Creek, the only <br />decreed diversion that BLM is aware of in this reach is Currant Creek Flood Ditch, decreed for <br />10 cfs. There are several diversions in the upper portion of the lower reach that are authorized by <br />a general language in an old court decree that does not specify permanent diversion locations or <br />diversion amounts. Even with these diversions, there has been sufficient water to support a <br />permanent fishery downstream. <br /> <br />Relationship to Management Plans. BLM has acquired significant acreage for public access <br />along Currant Creek as part of a plan to block up public lands in this area. In addition, BLM has <br />implemented actions to improve fishery and riparian habitat along the creek. Because this creek <br />has recreational access at several points, it has the potential to become a more heavily used <br />recreational fishery if stream conditions are improved and flows are maintained. <br /> <br />The BLM requests that the Board recognize that this recommendation is based only upon the <br />minimum flows necessary to support cold-water fishery values. BLM may wish to work with the <br />Board and/or through the Colorado water rights system to appropriate flows to optimally protect <br />fish values and to protect other water-dependent values specified in BLM resource management <br />plans. <br />