Eagle River Inventory and Assessment ‎(2)‎

• Document ID: hr_0003b
• County: Eagle
• County: Pitkin
• Stream Name: Eagle River
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Sub-Basin: Eagle 14010003
• Water Division: 5
• Title: Eagle River Inventory and Assessment - Executive Summary
• Date: 8/1/2005
• Prepared For: Eagle River Watershed Council
• Prepared By: Colorado State University
• Watershed Pro - Doc Type: Planning Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ES.1 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT / STAKEHOLDERS .......................................................................2
ES.2 WATERSHED RESTORATION PRINCIPLES IN THE EAGLE RIVER INVENTORY
AND ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................... 2
ES.3 WATERSHED OVERVIEW, HISTORY, AND POLICY ...........................................................4
ES.4 ANALYSIS OF WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS (THE AFFECTED
ENVIRONMENT) .....................................................................................................................4
ES.4.1 Land Use ........................................................................................................................... 4
ES.4.2 Water Use ......................................................................................................................... 4
ES.4.3 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................... 5
ES.4.4 Instream Flows .................................................................................................................. 5
ES.4.5 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 7
ES.4.6 Nutrients .............................. 7
.............................................................................................
ES.4.7 Metals ............................................................................................................................... 8
ES.4.8 Sedimentation Impacts ...................................................................................................... 9
ES.4.9 Geomorphic /Physical Habitat Assessment ..................................................................... 10
ES.4.10 Riparian and Wetland Habitat ........................................................................................ 11
ES.4.11 Biological Resources .........................
...............................................................................
12
ES.S POTENTIAL PROJECTS: IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION .............................12
ES.5.1 Seven Recommended Elements of a Restoration Strategy for the Eagle River
Watershed ....................................................................................................................... 15
ES.5.1.1 Recommendation 1- Define and manage for key ecological aspects of
flow regime ................................................................................................... 15
ES.5.1.2 Recommendation 2 -Implement restoration projects that have the
potential to provide synergistic benefits across relatively large segments
of the system ................................................................................................... 16
ES.5.1.2.1 Camp Hale Restoration ................................................................. 16
ES.5.1.2.2 Edwards /Lake Creek Area ............................................................ 18
ES.5.1.2.3 Gypsum Wildlife Area ................................................................... 19
ES.5.1.3 Recommendation 3 -Further reduce metals loading from historical
mining impacts and stormwater and defuse toxic `time bombs' ....................... 20
ES.5.1.3.1 Reduce Metals Loading from the Belden Area ............................... 20
ES.5.1.3.2 Belden Cribbings Stabilization ...................................................... 21
ES.5.1.4 Recommendation 4 -Develop and implement a watershed strategy for
addressing nutrient enrichment ...................................................................... 22
ES.5.1.5 Recommendation 5 -Develop and implement an integrated strategy to
manage stormwater and riparian corridors as growth occurs ............................ 23
ES.5.1.6 Recommendation 6 -Enjoy the river, but also recognize that there are
limits to its capacity and resilience -Develop and implement a long-
term access plan for low-impact recreation ...................................................... 25
ES.5.1.7 Recommendation 7 -Prevent further degradation -protect the
headwaters, existing high quality habitats, and native species .......................... 26
ES.6 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................27
ES.7 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................28
Eagle River Inventory and Assessment ES-11