WSP08554

• File Number: 8407
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 8/1/1982
• Author: Arthur D Little Inc
• Title: Six State High Plains-Ogallala Aquifer Regional Resources Study - Study Element B-4 - Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts Assessment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The complex of the river, Jackson, Riverside, Empire and
possibly Pruitt Reservoirs, historically provides winter habitat
for a population of 35-45 endangered bald eagles. After spring
fish kills, Pruitt Reservoir has been noted to provide stopover
for up to 200 migrating bald eagles.

Riparian vegetation is primariy ash-cottonwood-willow asso-
ciations. Tamarack Ranch, west of Julesburg, is listed as a
Colorado Natural Area, as "an excellent example of the rapidly
diminishing cottonwood-riparian ecosystem of Colorado's eastern
plains. II Fisheries on the South Platte are limited due to low
flows and turbidity. Julesburg, Sterl ing, Pruitt and Jackson
Reservoirs are listed as having highest priority fisheries.
(Stream and Lake Evaluation Map, State of Colorado, 1979.)

o Arkansas River Basin - The Arkansas River originates in the
Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It then flows generally eastward
to the Kansas border. The Arkansas is diverted extensively in
some areas, and is intermittent for 1 arge stretches. It is a
major wintering area with approximately 80,000 wintering ducks
and 28,000 geese.

There are several fairly large reservoirs, including Pueblo,
Lake Meredith, and John Mart i n Reservoi rs. Fi sheri es in the
Arkansas range from limited to high priority, depending on
chlorides and flow. Pueblo, Lake Meredith and other smaller
reservoirs support highest priority fisheries.

The Comanche National Grasslands is located in the basin.

SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

Population

Historical Trend

Popul ation changes in the Region over the past twenty years do not
appear to follow state or national trends for the same period. From
1960-1970, the Ogallala regional population actually declined slightly, but
then increased by 8.2%, from 1970-1980, as shown on Table 1-2. Both six
state and national populations increased by over 10% during both decades.
Regional growth has lagged behind the growth rate in non-Ogallala portions
of the six states and the nation. From 1960-1980, population increased

1-27