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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <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 staff s <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 Blue Creek to <br />the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. Blue Creek is being considered for <br />inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment that can be <br />preserved to a reasonable degree with an instream flow water right. The BLM is very interested <br />in protecting streamflows because Blue Creek is one of the few lower elevation streams on the <br />western side of Uncompahgre Plateau that supports a cold water fishery. <br /> <br />Blue Creek is a tributary of the Dolores River and is approximately 14.5 miles long. It begins <br />near the crest of the Uncompahgre Plateau at an elevation of approximately 9000 feet, and <br />terminates at the confluence with the Dolores River at an elevation of approximately 4900 feet. <br />The reach is located primarily on federal lands, with the exception of approximately one half <br />mile located on privately owned lands near the confluence with Calamity Creek. The creek is <br />located in Mesa County. The total drainage area of the creek is approximately 81 square miles. <br />Blue Creek generally flows in a southwest direction. <br /> <br />The subject of this report is a 7.0 mile segment of Blue Creek beginning at the confluence with <br />the Massey Branch and extending downstream to the confluence with Calamity Creek (see <br />Figure 1) and a 3.0 mile segment of Blue Creek beginning at the confluence with Calamity Creek <br />and extending to the headgate of the Tom Watkins Ditch. (see Figures 1 & 2). These segments <br />are located southeast of the town of Gateway. To date, the staff has received two <br />recommendations on Blue Creek, one for this segment, and one for the stream segment <br />immediately upstream. These recommendations are discussed below. <br /> <br />Instream Flow Recommendation(s) <br /> <br />BLM's instream flow recommendation for the upper reach is for 5.5 cfs (April 1 - October 31) <br />and 3.25 cfs (November 1 - March 31) and 3.5 cfs (April 1- October 31) and 1.0 cfs (November <br />1 - March 31) for the lower reach. <br /> <br />Land Status Review <br /> <br /> Total Length Land Ownership <br />Upper Terminus Lower Terminus (miles) % Private % Public <br />Massey Branch Calamity Creek 8.8 7% 93 % <br /> <br />Approximately 93% of the reach is located on federal lands managed by the BLM the other 7% <br />is private land. <br /> <br />-4- <br />