ISFAPPC01074 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

/ " IN REPLY REFER TO United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Colorado State Oftice 2850 Youngfield Street Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 www.co,blm.gov CO-93 1 7250 DEe 5 2004 Mr. Dan Merriman Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mr. Merriman: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its instream flow recommendation for Escalante Creek, located in Water Division 4. Location and Land Status - Escalante Creek is tributary to the Gunnison River approximately nine miles west of the City of Delta. This recommendation covers two reaches of the stream. The first reach runs from the confluence with the Middle Fork to the headgate of the Knob Hill Ditch. The second reach runs from the confluence with the North Fork to the headgate of the Captain H.A. Smith Ditch. For the 6.42 mile upper reach, approximately 92% is located on federal lands while the remaining 8% is privately owned. For the 3.9 mile lower reach, 81 % is located on federals lands while the remaining 19% is privately owned. Biological Summary - For the upper reach, fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable condition, and supports a self-sustaining rainbow trout fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, and substrate are good for salmonids. However, this stream has a wide, shallow channel that limits the amount of physical habitat available. In addition, low flows make it difficult for fish to pass between pools if depth is not sufficient. Accordingly, it is important to provide stream flows that protect the limited amount of available habitat if the continued existence of the fishery is to be assured. For the lower reach, fishery surveys indicate that this stream segment provides important spawning habitat during snowmelt runoff for flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker. These are sensitive species in decline. BLM is working to keep these species off the list of threatened and endangered species by protecting suitable habitat. During the remainder of the year, this stream segment provides habitat for speckled dace and migrant rainbow trout. R2Cross Analysis - BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the following flows are needed to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree.