EF Dry Creek Appendices - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

IN R~~{}~YO 7250 United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Colorado State Office 2850 Young field Street Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 www.co.blm.gov DEe c; 2004 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 East Fork Dry Creek, located in Water Division 4. Location and Land Status - East Fork Dry Creek is tributary to Dry Creek approximately II miles southwest of Montrose. The stream reach covered by the surveys conducted on BLM lands runs from the confluence with Beaver Dams Creek to the confluence with Dry Creek. Of the 10.00 mile reach, approximately 52% is located on federal lands while the remaining 48% is privately owned. Biological Summary - Fishery surveys indicate that the creek supports a self-sustaining brown trout fishery. The stream environment is presently in excellent condition and provides suitable substrate, cover, channel stability, and food supplies for salmonids. However, the stream is very steep and high velocity, so pools and other feeding/spawning locations are limited. Accordingly, it is important to protect stream flows that maintain the limited amount of physical habitat. R2Cross Analysis - BLM's data analysis, coordinated with the Division of Wildlife, indicates that the following flows are needed to protect the fishery and natural environment to a reasonable degree. 3.60 cubic feet per second is recommended for the snowmelt runoff period from April I to June 30. This recommendation is driven by the average velocity criteria. Meeting the average velocity criteria is important for suitable habitat in the low gradient portions of this stream. It is also important for maintaining low stream temperatures during the late summer and early fall. 1.60 cubic feet per second is recommended from July I to July 31 and from March I to March 31. This flow will provide a transition period between the snowmelt runoff flows and the very low flow period from late summer through winter. 0.60 cubic feet per second is recommended from August I through February 28. BLM analysis of flow regimes on the Uncompahgre Plateau shows that this is the amount of water typically available in the stream during this time period. This flow will allow fish to survive in pools and will prevent the riparian environment from being seriously stressed.