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<br />. <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Stream Segment Summary: Unnamed tributary to East Mesa Creek <br /> <br />Seament: Unnamed Tributary to East Mesa Creek <br /> <br />Upper Terminus: Unnamed tributary at <br />(Latitude: 380 31' 08") (Longitude: 1080 38' 49") <br />Lower Terminus: East Mesa Creek at <br />(Latitude 380 36' 55") (Longitude 1080 47' 27") <br />Counties: Mesa and Montrose <br />Length: 10.4 Miles <br />USGS Quad(s): Uncompahgre Butte, Atkinson Creek, Red Canyon <br />Flow Recommendation: 1.25 cfs (March 1 st - March 31 st) <br />2.00 cfs (April 1 st - May 31 st) <br />0.30 cfs (June 1 st - February 29th) <br /> <br />Seament: East Mesa Creek to North Mesa Creek <br /> <br />Upper Terminus: East Mesa Creek at <br />(Latitude 380 36' 55") (Longitude 108047' 27") <br />Lower Terminus: North Mesa Creek at <br />(Latitude 380 27' 10") (Longitude 108049' 00") <br />Counties: Montrose <br />Length: 1.6 Miles <br />USGS Quad(s): Red Canyon <br />Flow Recommendation: No data collected/No Recommendation <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder forms the <br />basis for staff's instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staffs <br />opinion that the information contained in this report is sufficient to support the findings required <br />in Rule 5.40. <br /> <br />Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature <br />recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of <br />the natural environment" (see 37-92-102 (3) C.R.S.). The statute vests the CWCB with the <br />exclusive authority to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake level water rights. <br />In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the <br />statute directs the CWCB to request instream flow recommendations from other state and federal <br />agencies. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommended this segment of South Fork <br />Mesa Creek to the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. South Fork Mesa <br />Creek is being considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural <br />environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. <br />The BLM is very interested in protecting stream flows because South Fork Mesa Creek is one of <br />the few lower elevation streams on the western slope of the Uncompahre Plateau that supports a <br />cold water fishery. <br /> <br />South Fork Mesa Creek is a tributary of Mesa Creek, and Mesa Creek is tributary to the Dolores <br />River. This stream is approximately 14.5 miles long. South Fork Mesa Creek originates on the <br />western side of the crest of the Uncompahgre Plateau at approximately 8900 feet, and terminates <br />at the confluence with the North Fork at approximately 5500 feet. The reach is located <br />primarily on federal lands, with the exception of 0.25 mile on private lands near Horse Mesa. <br /> <br />- 2- <br />