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<br />. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />000221 <br /> <br />Forest Service Instream Flow Claims <br />Group 1 Streams <br />Flows and Rationale for High Flows <br /> <br />Group I streams in Water Division No, 2 are those in which water users have the <br />strongest interest for future water development. At the same time, the Forest Service has a <br />responsibility not only to maintain favorable conditions of flow, but also to protect the physical, <br />biological and chemical integrity of the streams, let alone to keep these stream resources from <br />being totally destroyed as a public resource, In an effort to preserve at least some minimal level <br />of the natural stream system, yet also address development needs, the technical group agreed in <br />principle that a minimal base flow for fish and riparian habitat could be preserved for all of the <br />Group I streams without material impairment to the perceived development needs, In addition, <br />the technical group came to tentative agreement that higher flows may be justified, and could be <br />protected, for some streams under certain conditions, <br /> <br />There are 43 Group I streams, During technical group discussions, four were dropped <br />from the original list, and another three were added. Minimum base flows for fish and riparian <br />habitat are needed on all 43 streams, On all of these streams, the technical group determined that <br />present and future water development needs can be met even if these base flows are protected, <br /> <br />On 16 streams protection of high flow was discussed and considered, Six of these <br />streams either contain Greenback Cutthroat trout, considered a "sensitive species" under the <br />ESA, or are candidates for recovery reintroduction, The four streams currently containing <br />Greenbacks are: <br /> <br />South Catamount Creek <br />South Fork French Creek <br />Little Fountain Creek <br />Lake Fork of the Arkansas (above Southeastern and Twin Lakes facilities,) <br /> <br />In addition, Adobe and Newlin Creeks are candidates for reintroduction as part of the recovery <br />plan for the trout. The Forest Service has recently become aware that Turkey Creek may also be <br />a good candidate for reintroduction, at least in that portion of the stream less suitable for <br />development. The Forest Service would like to discuss this stream further at the technical <br />meeting in October, High flows as well as base flows are necessary on these seven streams in <br />order to maintain habitat conditions that will support viable, self-sustaining, naturally <br />reproducing fish populations. This species has rigorous habitat requirements and is sensitive to <br />habitat disturbance and spawning ground conditions. High flows affect the channel and <br />spawning conditions, transporting finer sediments and moving gravels important to spawning. In <br />addition, high flows maintain the channel habitat, including channel size, substrate, and habitat <br />structure (e,g, pools and riffles), These streams are all small, and are somewhat marginal in <br />natural size to support self-sustaining populations, Habitat for a naturally reproducing <br />population is therefore dependant on periodic high flows in the channels, Any additional <br /> <br />- I - <br /> <br />'" <br />