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Stream: JQS Gulch SeQment: Headwaters to Golden Castle Gulch Executive Summary Upper Terminus: Unnamed Tributary at (Latitude: 39035' 44") (Longitude: 1070 54' 00") Lower Terminus: Golden Castle Gulch at (Latitude 390 35' 08") (Longitude 1070 54' 55") Counties: Garfield Length: 1.1 Miles USGS Quad(s): Anvil Points Flow Recommendation: 0.7 cfs (April 15 - June 30) 0.2 cfs (July 1 - August 31) 0.1 cfs (September 1 - March 14) 0.2 cfs (March 15 - April 14) Summary The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file folder for JQS Gulch forms the basis for staff s instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staff s opinion that the information contained is this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule 5.40. Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature recognized ''the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of the natural environment" (see ~ 37-92-102 (3) c.R.S.). The statue vests the CWCB with the exclusive to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake-level water rights. In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado's Instream Flow Program, the statue directs the CWCB to request instream flow recommendations from other state and federal agencies. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommended this segment of JQS Gulch to the CWCB for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program. JQS Gulch is being considered for inclusion into the Instream Flow Program because it has a natural environment that can be preserved to a reasonable degree with an in stream flow water right. The BLM is very interested in protecting the streamflows in this area because in November of 1997, the U.S. Congress transferred management of the Navel Oil Shale Reserve from the Department of Energy to the BLM. Congress directed the BLM to manage the area for multiple uses, while simultaneously protecting the area's unique resource values. JQS Gulch is a tributary of the East Fork of Parachute Creek and is approximately 1.1 miles long. It begins West of the Roan Cliffs, at an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet, and terminates at the confluence with Golden Castle Gulch, at an elevation of approximately 8,600 feet. It is located on the Naval Oil Shale Reserve, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in Garfield County. The total drainage area of JQS Gulch is approximately 1.8 square miles. JQS Gulch generally flows in a east to west direction. The subject of this report is a 1.1 mile segment of JQS Gulch beginning at the confluence of an unnamed tributary and extending downstream to the confluence with Golden Castle Gulch (see Figure 1). This segment is located northwest of the City of Rifle. To date, staff has received and considered only one flow recommendation for JQS Gulch. That recommendation is discussed in detail below.