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<br />2 <br /> <br />Upper Reach - Confluence with Middle Fork to Headgate of Knob Hill Ditch <br /> <br />11.50 cubic feet per second is recommended for the snowmelt runoff period from April 1 <br />to June 30. This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. Many <br />portions of this reach are low gradient, and it is important to provide adequate velocity for <br />fish spawning and incubation of eggs. Protecting flows during this time period is also <br />important for recharging the alluvial aquifer, which discharges water to the stream and <br />maintains flow levels during later summer, <br /> <br />3.20 cubic feet per second is recommended from July I to July 31 and from March I to <br />March 31. This flow will provide a transition period between snowmelt runoff flows and <br />the very low flow period from late summer through winter. <br /> <br />1.30 cubic feet per second is recommended from August I through February 28. BLM <br />analysis of flow regimes on the Uncompahgre Plateau shows that this is the amount of <br />water typically available in the stream during this time period. This flow will allow fish <br />to survive in pools and will prevent the riparian environment from being seriously <br />stressed. <br /> <br />Lower Reach - Confluence with North Fork to Headgate of Captain H.A. Smith Ditch <br /> <br />8.20 cubic feet per second is recommended for the snowmelt runoff period from April 1 <br />to June 30. This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. Many <br />portions of this reach are low gradient, and it is important to provide adequate velocity for <br />fish spawning and incubation of eggs. Protecting flows during this time period is also <br />important for recharging the alluvial aquifer, which discharges water to the stream and <br />maintains flow levels during later summer. <br /> <br />4.00 cubic feet per second is recommended from July I to July 31 and from March I to <br />March 31. This flow will provide a transition period between the snowmelt runoff flows <br />and the very low flow period from late summer through winter. <br /> <br />1.50 cubic feet per second is recommended from August I through February 28. BLM <br />analysis of flow regimes on the Uncompahgre Plateau shows that this is the amount of <br />water typically available in the stream during this time period. This flow will allow fish <br />to survive in pools and will prevent the riparian environment from being seriously <br />stressed. <br /> <br />W ater Availability - There are no decreed surface diversions within the upper reach of stream <br />and no surface diversions within the lower stream reach. There are water rights located between <br />these two stream reaches, but return flows from irrigation accrue to the creek before the upper <br />terminus of the lower reach. Since existing stream gages on lower Escalante Creek are heavily <br />affected by irrigation diversions, BLM does not recommend using that data as a direct indication <br />