WSP09432

• File Number: 7630.250
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Encampment River
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Title: Encampment River-Supporting Material-Encampment River Study-Fish and Wildlife
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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study area.

A small amount of winter range is available south o[ En-

campment.

The area has never supported lal'ge numbers o'f deer be-

cause of limited winter range although present populations could be increased.

The present population is the lowest it has been ill recent years partially

because of severe winters.

The potential lncrease In deer nnrnbers is

dependent upon the amount of winter range available.

An estimated 500 elk use the area during the spring, summer and fall

months particularly from June through October.

The area provides critical

elk calving areas and migration r'outes necessary for elk survival. Hog

Park, Commissary Park, Ryan Park, an0umerous small parks along

the lower portions o[ the main stem and West Fork are critical calving

and nursery areas for elk in late May and early June.

During the spring, nlost elk n1igratc inlo the area over fOll1" ll1ajor routes

I) up the Encampment River from the Encampment area,

2) over Buffalo

Ridge from North Park,

3) over the Continental Divide [rom the Snake

River drainage and 4) over the Continental Divide near Hog Park Reservoir

from the Huston Park area into South Hog Park Creek.

Most of the fall

migration follow these same routes.

It is believed that nearly one-half

of the migrating elk use the Encampment River Canyon route.

Most of the elk winter range lies outside the study area just south of

Encampment and in the Savery Creek-Little Snake River country.

Some

move into North Park and a few remain in the area where snow does not

cover their food.

The elk popula tion is dependent upon the suitability and

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