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<br />;;::. <br /> <br />.~. <br /> <br /> <br />U.8. Da'AA'IllENTOFTHE lNTEfllOR <br />BU~EAiJOFlAND~O!EI'fJ <br /> <br />IN REPLY REFER TO <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Colorado State Office <br />2850 Youngfield Street <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093 <br /> <br /> <br />www,co.blm,gov <br /> <br />CO-932 <br />7250 <br /> <br />DEe 20 2002 <br /> <br />Mr, Dan Merriman <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Merriman: <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is writing this letter to formally communicate its <br />instream flow recommendation for Butler Creek, located in Water Division 5. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Location and Land Status. Butler Creek is tributary to Middle Rifle Creek approximately II <br />miles north of Rifle. The stream reach that was surveyed runs from the confluence with George <br />Creek to the confluence with Middle Rifle Creek. Of the 2.6 mile reach, 75 percent is located on <br />public lands. <br /> <br />Biological Summary. Fishery surveys indicate that the stream environment is in good condition, <br />and supports a self-sustaining brook trout fishery. Spawning substrate, water quality, pool <br />availability, and cover are excellent for salmonids. However, some portions of the creek exhibit <br />poor channel and bank stability because of occasional large flow events, underscoring the <br />importance of adequate flows to prevent further stress to the fishery. <br /> <br />R2Cross Analysis. BLM collected one data set on this reach. This effort produced both summer <br />and winter recommendations that are within the confidence interval of the R2Cross model. BLM's <br />data analysis indicates that the following flows are required to protect the fishery and natural <br />environment to a reasonable degree: <br /> <br />2.40 cubic feet per second is recommended for the high temperature period from May 1 to <br />October 31. This is a steep gradient stream system, so the recommendation was driven by <br />the average depth criteria, Providing this flow rate over the length of the growing season <br />is especially important because the availability of physical habitat can be seriously limited <br />by inadequate depths. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1.10 cubic feet per second is recommended for the low temperature period from <br />November I to April 30. This flow will be sufficient to maintain pools that will allow fish <br />