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<br />.- <br /> <br />254 <br /> <br />Uppendahl, Mark <br /> <br />From: Kirk Lashmett [Klashmett@uc.usbr.govl <br />Ment: Tuesday, February 13, 200111:19AM <br />'WIro: mark.uppendahl@state.co,us <br />Cc: chrls.kloSler@state.co,us; Kurt Broderdorp: Rob Waldman; Steve McCall; Susan <br />Subject: Re; ISF' Work Plan Workshop. Instream Flow SUbscription Mailing list <br />Mark, <br /> <br />easad on our phone conversatIon earlier tOday, described below is a description of the current status of the La Plata River downstream of Hesperus, <br />CO and why Reclamation believes a mnimum {nstream flow needs to be protected. <br /> <br />Within the section ot the La Plata River referenced above, the river between Hesperus and the confluence at Cherry creek is routinelly dewatered <br />during the irrigation seasOn, According, and unfortunately. this section does not maintain a resident fishery. The section of the La Plata River that <br />Reclamation seeks to protect is from Cherry Creek to the COlorado/New Mexico state line. Within this section Qf the river a significant native fishery <br />persists. This consists of: the roundtail chub (Gila robusta), the flanneJmouth sucker (CatosfOM1US latloinnis), the bluehead sucker (CatostomlJs <br />discobolus) and the speckled dace (Rhinichthvs osculus), The roundtail chub is one of the rarest native fishes within the San Juah basin although the <br />native sucker' populations have also declined in recent years. These native fishes persist within this perrennial flowing section of the La Plata River in <br />flows less than 8 cfs. Many are able to survive at flows much lowe( than this. Any additional flow depletions could extirpate these native fish species <br />from the La Plata Rive(. Instream flow protection is imperative to J'revent this from happening. <br /> <br />In addition, Reclamation is in the process 01 acquiring a s;gnjcant portion of this reach of river to obtain mitigation credits associa.ted with the <br />construction and operation of the Animas.La Plata Project (Project). Eventually about 6.000 acres of land would be acquired for wetrand and wildlife <br />mitigation and possibly for natiVe fishery mitigation arso, 11 that Carinot be achieved on the Animas River, the river the Project would impact. Also, <br />Reclamation Is attempting to acquire conservation easements on the La Plata on lands not acquired to protect the physical habitats from further <br />degradation. <br /> <br />In 1994, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (COOW) cofJected data for a recommended instream flow (ecommendation but it was never completed. Jay <br />Skinner of COOW hes this dete, The instream flow protection is supported locally by Chris Kloster (COOW habitat biologist in Durango) and by Kurt <br />6roderdorp with the U,S, Fish end Wildlife Service in Grand Junction, Tbey can be reached at (970) 362,6647 and (970) 243,2778, respectiveiy, <br /> <br />Reclamation wlll provide any additional information that you request that would help to better document other resource benefits derived from <br />pritecting base flows on thela Plata River, if appropriate, w. wouid be willing to attend your workshop iater in February, Please do not besitat. to <br />."ve me a call if i can be of further assistance, I can be reached at (970) 365,6561, Thanks egain for your interest. KiRK <br /> <br />~>> <mark,uppendahl@state,co.us> 02106/01 10:09AM >>> <br /> <br />"'-_~"M_~.__... <br /> <br />.w____--- <br /> <br />~--~~--~--...,,-"'.. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br />