ISFAPPC02615

• Case Number: 04CW0159
• Stream Name: North East Creek
• Watershed: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Water District: 42
• County: Mesa
• Instream Flow App - Doc Type: Supplemental Data

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IN REPLY REFER TO

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Colorado State Office
2850 Youngfield Street
Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093

www.co.blm.gov

CO-932
7200

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t)t.C \. Q

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 North East Creek, located in Water Division 4.

Location and Land Status. The North East Creek watershed is located approximately six miles southwest
of Whitewater. The stream reach that was surveyed begins downstream of King ReseIVoir and runs 11.5
miles downstream to the confluence with East Creek. Approximately 57 percent of the reach is owned and
managed by BLM, while the remaining 43 percent is in private ownership.

Biological Summary. Fishel)' surveys indicate that the stream environment is in good condition and
supports a self-sustaining rainbow trout and speckled dace fishel)'. Channel stability, bank stability, and
water quality are excellent for salmonids. However, limiting factors in this stream include a limited supply of
spawning substrates and occasionally high stream temperatures.

R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division ofWildIife, indicates that the
following flows are required to protect the fishel)' and natural environment to a reasonable degree:

. 5.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 31 high temperature period.
This recommendation is driven by the depth criteria. Meeting the depth criteria is important for
insuring that the fish population has sufficient access to spawning gravels.

. 1.0 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November 1 to March 31 low temperature period.
This recommendation is driven by the wetted perimeter criteria. Given the paucity of pools in the
lower parts of the reach, adequate physical habitat elsewhere in the stream is especially important
during winter.

Water Availability. There are numerous decreed water rights upstream of this reach, but it is not clear
whether any of these rights divert regularly. There are two water rights located within the reach, including the
Helmke Ditch (0.89 cfs) and the BradbllI)' Ditch (0.91 cfs). Since these diversions are small and appear to
have short diversion seasons, BLM does not recommend using them as a lower terminus for the
recommended reach.