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Stream: Northwater Creek Segment: Raspberry Creek to Trapper Creek Executive Summary Upper Terminus: Raspberry Creek at (Latitude 390 36" 37") (Longitude 107058' 14") Lower Terminus: Trapper Creck at (Latitude 390 31' 2000) (Longitude 108000' -IT) Counties: Garfield Length: 2.7 Miles USGS Quad(s): Am"il Points and Forked Gulch Flow Recommendation: 5.2 cfs (April!5 ~ ~tay 31) (4.2 cfs - Enlargement) 4.0 cfs (June 1 - June 30) (3.0 cfs - Enlargement) Summary The information contained in this report and the associated instream flow file- folder for Northwater Creek forms the basis for staff s instream flow recommendation to be considered by the Board. It is staffs opinion that the infom13tion contained is this report is sufficient to support the findings required in Rule 5.40. Colorado's Instream Flow Program was created in 1973 when the Colorado State Legislature recognized "the need to correlate the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of the natural environment"" (see ~ 37-92-102 (3) C.R.S.). The statue vests the CWCB with the exclusive to appropriate and acquire instream flow and natural lake-level \""ater rights. In order to encourage other entities to participate in Colorado' s lnstrcam Flow Program. the statue directs the CWCB to reques! instream flow recommendations from other state and federal agencies. Thc Bureau of Land :-'1anagement (BU\'1) recommended this segment ~o the CWCB for an enlargement of its existing instream flow of I cfs. The BL}.1 is very interested in protecting the streamllows in this area because in November of 1997. the U.S. Congress transferred management of the Navcl Oil Shale Reserve from the Department of Energy to the BU\1. Congress directed the BLM to manage the area for multiple uses. while simultaneously protecting the area's unique resource values. Northwater Creek is a tributary of the Middle Fork of Parachute Creek and is approximately 6.4 miles long. It begins \\'est of the Roan ClitTs. at an elevation of approximately 8.850 feet. and terminates at the confluence with Trapper Creek. at an elevation of approximately 7.980 feet. It is located on the Naval Oil Shale Reserve. which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in Garfield County. The total drainage a~ea of j\;orthwater Creek is approximately 12.6 square miles. Northwater Creek generally flows in an cast to west direction. The subject of this report is a 2.7 mile segment of Northwatcr Creek beginning at the conllucnce with Raspberry Creek and extending downstream to the conlluence with Trapper Creek. This segment is located northwest of the City of Rille. The CWCB currently holds a decreed instream Ilow water right on this reach of stream for 1.0 cfs year-round (Case No. 5-85C\\'635). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommended this segmenl 10 the CWeB for an enlargement of its existing instreanl Ilow of I cfs. That recommendation is discussed in detail below.