BOARD02103

• Board Meeting Date: 3/26/2001
• Description: ISF Section - Proposed ISF Appropriation 2002 Work Plan Priorities
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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stream segments and/or natural lake levels for data collection in which it intends to bring instream
flow or natural lake level recommendations to the Board in the upcoming three years. Staff feels that
by identifying 75 streams, stream segments and/or natural lake levels for data collection will allow it
the flexibility to adjust its work schedule to account for the possibility of unforeseen or unfavorable
data collection conditions which may occur in a specific water division or watershed,

As per Instream Flow Rule 5.10, staff will collaborate with State and Federal agencies and other
interested persons to plan and coordinate collection of field data necessary for development of ISF
recommendations. All of the streams and lakes listed below have been determined by staff to be a
high priority. Staff has attempted to give each of these high priority streams a relative priority, It is
staffs intention to focus its~ efforts on the highest priority streams identifi,ed below. However, due
to weather conditions in a basin, unforeseen field data collection problems or the need for addition'al
local public involvement, staff may elect to focus its efforts on lower priority segments,

The following streams and lakes are being studied for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program:

Priority #1 = San Mi~uel River (Fall Creek - Horseflv Creek) - [Water Division 4]

This stream reach remains the CWCB staffs top priority for ISF Protection in 2002, According to
the ISF Priority Criteria this segment is the highest ranking stream segment currently being
considered by the Board for ISF consideration.

Instream Flow Recommendation Supported by: BLM, CDOW, San Miguel Watershed Coalition,
San Miguel County Commissioners and local public.

. Concerns Expressed by: Montrose County, Town of Norwood and Southwest Water Conservancy
District

Priority #2 = San Mie:uel & Dolores River Tributaries - [Water Division 4]

These streams could include: Bear Creek, Blue Creek, Butcher Creek, Chapman Creek, Cornet
Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Eider Creek, Groundhog Gulch, Horsefly Creek, Howard Fork San
Miguel River, La Sal Creek, Lizard Head Creek, Marshall Creek, Mesa Creek, Mill Creek, North
Fork Mesa Creek, Owl Gulch, Prospect Creek, Roc Creek, Royer Gulch, South Fork Mesa Creek,
Specie Creek, Spring Creek, Swamp Canyon Creek, Tabeguache Creek, Turkey Creek, Vance Creek
and Waterfall Creek.

These stream segments are being proposed as the second highest priority because staff anticipates
they will be spending a considerable amount of time in the San Miguel River Basin working with
local parties. Some data has already been collected on these tributaries but additional data may need
to be collected. The BLM is also focusing a majority of its resources to collecting data in this basin.
These stream segments contain cold water fishery environments (upper San Miguel Basin) as well as
some warm/cool water environments, summer flows can be very small, and tributary flow can be
important to help with heavy metal issues in the main stem.

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Instream Flow Recommendation Supported by: BLM & CDOW

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection