WSPC01558

• File Number: 8460.500
• Description: Platte River Basin - Endangered Species Issues - South Platte Recovery Program
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 2/10/1994
• Author: CDW
• Title: South Platte Agreement - Lower South Platte River Basin Aquatic Wildlife Management Guide Prototype - Draft
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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LOWER SOUTH PLATTE RIVER AQUATIC WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

I . PURPOSE

The Lower South Platte River Aquatic wildlife Management Guide
focuses on aquatic resource management programs for the South
Platte River drainage from the city of Greely downstream to
the Nebraska state line. The Guide is intended to accomplish
several objectives including;

Describe the physical fishery and aquatic resources in
the drainage area subject to management by the Division
of Wildlife.

Discuss fishery management goals and
specific waters(management categories)
resources located within the lower South
drainage basin and provide alternatives
fishery management practices.

objectives for
and aquatic
Platte River
for current

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Discuss issues which are influencing the management of
Lower South Platte Basin aquatic resources including
public input regarding those issues.

Describe preferred fishery management recommendations for
the basin and activities which are being or will be
undertaken to achieve goals and objectives for aquatic
resources in the basin.

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II. GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE BASIN

For purposes of this report, the lower South Platte basin
encompasses an area of northeastern colorado, from the
confluence of the Cache La Poudre River near Greeley, Colorado
to the Colorado/Nebraska state line at Julesburg, Colorado.
The nearest upstream boundary marker is the hydrologic gauging
station at Kersey, Colorado. The lower South Platte River
basin drains approximately 13,540 mi2. Among 83 years of
recorded flows, the mean flow rate at Julesburg was 533.3 ft
/sec, or 69% of the 769.9 ft3/sec rate at Kersey. Stream
flows averaged over 8 decades show no marked reduction from
1903 to the present, with some increase in the last decade.
Much of this flow retention has been attributed to seepage
return flows from irrigation and urban areas. It has been
reported that 75% of the, average flow of the lower South
Platte River is treated effluent from the Denver metro area.

Thirteen major tributaries: Lonetree ,Creek, Crow Creek, Box

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