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<br />supports a self-sustaining rainbow trout and cutthroat trout fishery. Channel and bank stability, <br />substrate, and water quality, are excellent for salmonids. However, the low number of pools and <br />sub-optimal cover are limiting factors for fish habitat, underscoring the importance of adequate <br />flows to prevent further stress to the fish population" (see Fish Surveys in Appendix B). <br /> <br />Field Survey Data <br /> <br />BLM staff used the R2Cross methodology to quantify the amount of water required to preserve <br />the natural environment to a reasonable degree. The R2Cross method requires that stream <br />discharge and channel profile data be collected in a riffle stream habitat type. Riffles are most <br />easily visualized, as the stream habitat types that would dry up first should streamflow cease. <br />This type of hydraulic data collection consists of setting up a transect, surveying the stream <br />channel geometry, and measuring the stream discharge. Appendix B contains copies of field <br />data collected for this proposed segment. <br /> <br />Biological Flow Recommendation <br /> <br />The CWCB staff relied upon the biological expertise of the cooperating agencies to interpret <br />output from the R2Cross data collected to develop the initial, biologic instream flow <br />recommendation. This initial recommendation is designed to address the unique biologic <br />requirements of each stream without regard to water availability. Three instream flow hydraulic <br />parameters, average depth, percent wetted perimeter, and average velocity are used to develop <br />biologic instream flow recommendations. The CDOW has determined that maintaining these <br />three hydraulic parameters at adequate levels across riffle habitat types, aquatic habitat in pools <br />and runs will also be maintained for most life stages of fish and aquatic invertebrates (Nehring <br />1979; Espegren 1996). <br /> <br />For this segment of stream, one data set was collected with the results shown in Table 1 below. <br />Table 1 shows who collected the data (Party), the date the data was collected (Date), the <br />measured discharge at the time of the survey (Q), the accuracy range of the predicted flows <br />based on Manning Equation (240% and 40% of Q), the summer flow recommendation based on <br />meeting 3 of 3 hydraulic criteria and the winter flow recommendation based upon 2 of 3 <br />hydraulic criteria. <br /> <br />Table 1: Data <br />Party <br />BLM <br /> <br />Date I <br />10/02/1997 I <br /> <br />Q <br />1.97 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />250%-40% <br />4.9 - 0.8 <br /> <br />I Summer (3/3) <br />I 2.5 <br /> <br />Winter (2/3) <br />2.0 <br /> <br />BLM - Bureau of Land Management DOW - Division of Wildlife <br />(1) Predicted flow outside of the accuracy range of Manning's Equation. ? = Criteria never met in R2CROSS Staging Table. <br /> <br />Biologic Flow Recommendation <br />The summer flow recommendation, which meets 3 of 3 criteria and is within the accuracy range <br />of the R2CROSS model is 2.5 cfs (See Table 1). The winter flow recommendation, which meets <br />2 of 3 criteria but is outside the accuracy range of the R2CROSS model is 2.0 cfs (See Table 1). <br /> <br />Hydrologic Data <br /> <br />After receiving the cooperating agency's biologic recommendation, the CWCB staff conducted <br />an evaluation of the stream hydrology to determine if water was physically available for an <br />instream flow appropriation. The hydro graph below was derived from data collected by the <br />USGS stream gage for Prince Creek near Carbondale, CO (ill #09083700), which has a drainage <br /> <br />area of 3.0 square mIles (See Gage Summary III AppendIX C). The total drainage area of the <br />Thomas Creek Drainage upstream of the Lewis Creek Ditch Headgate is approximately 4.7 <br /> <br />- 3 - <br />