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-- '"~ l~ REPLY REfER TO. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Colorado State Office 2850 Youngfield Street Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 United States Department of the Interior www.co.blm.gov CO-932 7200 - tll:.C \ ~ 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 Spring Creek, located in Water Division 4. Location and Land Status. The Spring Creek watershed is located approximately six miles southwest of Montrose. The stream reach that was surveyed begins at the confluence with the Middle Fork of Spring Creek and extends to the headgate of the Kenton Ditch. Approximately 93 percent of the reach is owned and managed by BLM, while the remaining 7 percent is in private ownership. Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is presently in stable condition, and supports a self-sustaining speckled dace and white sucker fishery. Channel stability, bank stability, substrate, and food supplies are good for supporting a fishery. The primary limitations in this stream are lack of cover in some reaches, occasionally high stream temperatures, consistently low flows during the late summer and early fall. Accordingly, it is important to protect stream flows if the continued existence of the fishery is to be assured. R2Cross Analysis. BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree: . 5.3 cubic feet per second is recommended for the April 1 to October 3 1 high temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the velocity criteria. Meeting the velocity criteria is important because the stream lacks cover in some reaches, and water temperatures can become high. . 2.6 cubic feet per second is recommended for the November I to March 31 low temperature period. This recommendation is driven by the wetted perimeter and depth 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.