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<br />\-"ot. <br /> <br /> <br />IN REPLY REPI:R TO <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br />1J.8,DEPARTM~NTOFTI-lEINTEAIOR <br />ElUnC~UOrlANDw.NAGEMENr <br /> <br /> <br />www.co.blm.gov <br /> <br />CO-934 <br />7200 . <br /> <br />- <br />nEe 1. 1\ <br /> <br />Mr. D$Merriman <br />Color Water Conservation Board <br />1313 S erman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />, <br />Dear Mt. Merriman: <br /> <br />The B~eau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow <br />recommendation for Spring Creek, located in Water Division 4. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. The Spring Creek watershed is located approximately six miles southwest of <br />Montrose. The stream reach that was sW'Veyed begins at the confluence with the Middle Fork of Spring <br />Creek ~ extends to the headgate of the Kenton Ditch. Approximately 93 percent of the reach is owned and <br />manager by BLM, while the remaining 7 percent is in private ownership. <br /> <br />BiOIOgilal Summary. Fishery sW'Veys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable condition, <br />and sup orts a self-sustaining speckled dace and white sucker fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, <br />substrat ,and food supplies are good for supporting a fishery. The primary limitations in this stream are lack <br />of cover in some reaches, occasionally high stream temperatures, consistently low flows during the late <br />summerland early fall. Accordingly, it is important to protect stream flows if the continued existence of the <br />fishery ib to be assured. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the <br />following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree: <br /> <br />. 15.3 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April I to October 31 high temperature period. <br />~is recommendation is driven by the velocity criteria. Meeting the velocity criteria is important <br />loecause the stream lacks cover in some reaches, and water temperatures can become high. <br /> <br />i <br />. 12.6 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November I to March 31 low temperature period. <br />iThis recommendation is driven by the wetted perimeter and depth criteria. Given the paucity of <br />fools in the lower parts of the reach, adequate physical habitat elsewhere in the stream is especially <br />limportant during winter. <br />i <br />