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<br />is a mix of private ranches, large acreage <br />home sites, BLM and USFS property. The <br />upper reaches of these tributaries are impor- <br />tant areas for camping, hiking, hunting and <br />wildlife watching. The headwaters of Milk <br />and Alkali Creeks are within a BLM <br />Wilderness Study Area which encompasses <br />Castle Peak. There are numerous camp sites <br />on the BLM and USFS properties, however <br />none are developed campground areas. <br />These areas should be monitored to deter- <br />mine need for future improvements <br /> <br />Other Tributaries <br />The tributaries of McCoy and Buck Creeks (a <br />USFS trailhead has been recently secured at <br />Buck Creek), were identified during the public <br />process as being threatened with elimination <br />of public access and should be monitored. <br /> <br />Eagle/Gypsum/Dotsero <br /> <br />Eagle River Parks in Eagle, Gypsum and <br />Dotsero <br />In Eagle, Chambers Park currently provides <br />access to the Eagle River and as a highway <br />rest area, is used by travelers as well as local <br />residents. Access to the river is also possible <br />at the Eagle County Fairgrounds in Eagle. <br />Both of these sites provide parking, restroom <br />and trash disposal facilities which are ade- <br />quate at this time, but should be carefully <br />monitored. Access for fishing and other activ- <br />ities exists at both sites and for about a mile <br />downstream from the Fairgrounds on the <br />north side of the river. Float trips for both <br />fishing and for drifting along a relatively <br />undeveloped stretch of the river can be <br />attractive from this point. Through the current <br />effort to master plan the Eagle County <br />Fairgrounds, fishing, walking, and scenic <br />viewing should be incorporated into the plan. <br />Public input indicates that this area has <br />tremendous potential, particularly in regard <br />to the river access and scenery. An access <br />easement along the river in east Eagle was <br /> <br />64 <br /> <br />If _~ <br /> <br />l~~ <br /> <br />recently obtained through development of the <br />Eagle Villas apartment project. The project <br />also includes a public park on the river. A soft <br />footpath may be warranted along the water- <br />line to concentrate impacts. <br /> <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />In Gypsum, there are no developed public <br />access sites on the river currently within the <br />Town of Gypsum. There are undeveloped <br />parcels of land along the River through <br />Gypsum that could be acquired to provide a <br />Town Park that includes public access to the <br />Eagle River. Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife <br />Area provides an access site for Gypsum resi- <br />dents as do the Eagle River Estates ease- <br />ments, both described below. <br /> <br />In Dotsero, there are several opportunities <br />to create river parks both on the Eagle River <br />and Colorado river as there are several unde- <br />veloped private parcels remaining in the area. <br />There is a BLM site east of Dotsero that could <br />be improved. Near the confluence of the <br />Eagle and Colorado, there are several small <br />lakes created by gravel mining in the area <br />that could be turned into an amenity for the <br />local and regional population as well as draw <br />travelers from the interstate. <br /> <br />East of Eagle to Red Canyon <br />A Colorado Division of Wildlife fishing lease <br />east of Eagle runs for approximately six miles <br />along the north side of the river. People mov- <br />ing to fish south of the river centerline are <br />trespassing on the Diamond S Ranch and <br />trespass is frequent to get to the easement <br />from Highway 6. Numerous pullouts exist <br />along Highway 6 throughout this stretch to <br />either access the fishing lease or BLM land <br />near Red Canyon. Consolidation of access <br />points and parking should be considered and <br />an effort made to control trespass. There are <br />no improved areas however, for restroom and <br />trash disposal facilities, but they should be <br />considered as use of this area increases. <br />There is some private land which breaks up <br />this stretch at about the mid-point and east of <br />