FLOOD10327

• County: Eagle
• Community: Eagle
• Stream Name: Eagle River
• Title: Eagle River Watershed Plan
• Date: 1/1/1996
• Prepared For: Eagle Community and Eagle County
• Prepared By: National Park Service
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

one of the most limited (in terms of land area
covered) yet species rich ecosystems in
Colorado. This ecosystem serves a variety of
functions including water storage, aquifer
recharge and discharge, streambank protec-
tion, biological filters, and aid in reducing
flood water impacts, and as an area used for
many recreational activities. Of Colorado's
approximately 1000 species of wildlife, over
500 of these utilize or occupy riparian ecosys-
tems ( Colorado Division of Wildlife, 1992 ). In
Eagle County, an inventory has shown that at
least 250 species are currently residing or uti-
lizing the riparian areas. The riparian areas
along the Eagle River provide important
wildlife habitats, migration corridors, breed-
ing, nesting, fawning, and calving areas.

Riparian ecosystems are one of the most
important and sensitive of all habitat types.
Eagle County lands are comprised of 80.3%
state and federal public lands and 19.7% pri-
vate holdings ( Eagle County Master Plan,
1994 ). It is estimated that 90% of riparian
ecosystems adjacent to the Eagle River are on
privately owned property.

Habitat Loss or Degradation

75% of the animal, fish and bird species in the
Colorado River basin, of which the Eagle
River watershed is a part, are listed as by
either the federal or state government as
endangered, threatened or at risk. In
Colorado, 1.7 % of mule deer range per year
is eliminated ( Walmo,et ai, 1981), and in
Eagle County, estimates are that up to 40% of
deer winter range has been eliminated. Most
of this lost habitat has been adjacent to the
Eagle River or tributaries. Development,
industry, agriculture, and recreation have all
contributed to the loss of riparian and flood-
plain areas or reduced water quantity and
quality.

. Housing developments are often found
directly adjacent to riparian areas. These

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sites are sought after for aesthetics and
tranquility. Also these low lying areas
are usually adjacent to transportation
and utility corridors.

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. Along with the development of property
comes the development of roads, for
every mile of Interstate (e.g. 1-70) built
45 acres of land are used, for every mile
of rural highway (e.g. Highway 6) 12
acres of land are used and for every
rural mile of road built (e.g. county
roads) 7 acres of land are used
(Walmo,et ai, 1981 ).

· Industry in the form of mining and manu-
facturing has also impacted the Eagle
River. The Eagle mine in Gilman has
been and continues to be a source of
heavy metal discharge into the river.
Viacom International, Inc. monies are
being used to clean up the site and recti-
fy the problem of the discharges with
some degree of success. Superfund
monies have been used to determine
environmental impacts to the river, and
negotiate additional clean-up require-
ments.

. Agricultural water rights, even though
they are adjudicated and on a state pri-
ority based system can at times severely
deplete the river's tributaries because of
the consumptive nature and traditional
style of irrigating by flooding fields.
Flood irrigation often has a positive
effect on late summer stream flows
because the un-consumed irrigation
water often percolates into the streams
later in the growing season. Livestock
use riparian areas for feeding, resting,
and as travel lanes, thus increasing the
impacts to soil and vegetation (Behnke,
R. J. 1978).

. Recreation impacts may be more subtle
and less understood but include littering,
soil compaction, loss of vegetative