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1.3 Project Location The Willow Creek watershed is located in the eastern San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. Willow Creek enters the Rio Grande just below the City of Creede. Figure 1.3.1 shows the location of the Willow Creek watershed within the upper basin of the Rio Grande (shaded) in Colorado. The 8000 foot and 10000 foot elevation contours and county boundaries are also indicated. J Saguache Cou nty Hinsdale Cou nty Archuleta Cou nty Figure 1.3.1. Location of Willow Creek watershed within Upper Rio Grande Basin The Willow Creek watershed extends to the Continental Divide with a high point of 13895 feet and drains to the Rio Grande. The watershed is characterized by steep slopes in its drop to Creede which is situated at an elevation of 8870 feet. Figure 1.3.2 displays the Willow Creek watershed boundary on top of the USGS topographic maps of the Creede area. Willow Creek is contained within a masonry flume in the downtown area of Creede. Willow Creek splits into East and West Willow Creeks near the historic site of North Creede. Willow, West Willow, and East Willow Creeks are delineated on the map with a dark blue line, and a blue line with a black border indicates the area of the masonry flume through downtown Creede. The study was limited to the reaches of Willow Creek above the entrance to the masonry flume. This portion of Willow Creek is sometimes referred to as "Upper Willow Creek". Figure 1.3.2 delineates the study portion of the watershed that contributes water to Upper Willow Creek above the flume. In-depth hydraulic analysis was limited to the stream reach from the masonry flume to the Commodore Mine on West Willow Creek and to above North Creede on East Willow Creek. A more approximate hydraulic analysis continued to the Amethyst Mine area on West Willow Creek and to the culvert on East Willow Creek about 2000 feet above North Creede. 1-3