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<br />.. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Upper Reach - Forest Service boundary to Major Creek <br /> <br />2.4 cubic feet per second is recommended for the May 1 to October 31 <br />high temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the average <br />depth criteria. It is important to meet the depth criteria because this a high <br />gradient stream that does not have an optimal width-to-depth ratio, making <br />fish passage difficult at lower flows. <br /> <br />0.6 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November 1 to April 30 <br />cold temperature period. This flow meets the average velocity and wetted <br />perimeter criteria, and should provide adequate flow for fish survival in <br />pools during the winter low flow period. <br /> <br />Lower Reach - Major Creek to BLM and private boundary <br /> <br />6.1 cubic feet per second is recommended for the May 1 to October 31 <br />high temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the wetted <br />perimeter criteria. Since this stream channel is fairly wide in response to <br />flood events, substantially more flow is needed to meet the wetted <br />perimeter criteria than in the upper reach. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1.3 cubic feet per second is recommended for November 1 to April 30 low <br />temperature period. This recommendation meets both the average depth <br />and average velocity criteria. This flow rate provides 42 percent wetted <br />perimeter as opposed to 50 percent in the summer recommendation. This <br />flow should provide for fish survival in pools during the winter low flow <br />period. <br /> <br />Relationship to Management Plans: BLM is very interested in protecting stream flows in <br />Garner Creek because it is one of the few streams managed by BLM on the east side of the San <br />Luis Valley that has flows capable of supporting a salmonid fishery. Because it has highly reliable <br />streamflows, it has potential for further improvement in the quality of the fishery and in the quality <br />of the riparian environment. Further improvement will not be supportable without protection of <br />flows. <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 /> <br />. <br /> <br />Data sheets, R2Cross output, fishery survey information, and photographs of the cross section are <br />enclosed to support this recommendation. We would like to thank both the Division of Wildlife <br />and the Water Conservation Board for their cooperation in this effort. <br />