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<br />. Aesthetics. Healthy, attrac- <br />tive stream corridors are central <br />to many of Colorado's scenic <br />byways and trails and contribute <br />to the state's high quality of lik <br />Colorado landmarks like Hanging <br />Lake in Glenwood Canyon, the <br />wild and scenic segment of the <br />Cache la Poudre River, and <br />Bridal Veil Falls on the upper <br />San Miguel all have their unique <br />values because of the water <br />flowing through them. <br /> <br />Dry and unnaturally low <br />streams cannot deliver this <br />broad range of public benefits. <br />Fortunately, there are reasonable, <br />common sense steps that <br />Colorado can take to protect its <br />healthy streams, and to restore <br />rivers with dangerously low flows <br />whose environments are <br />already degraded. <br /> <br /> <br />-'. <br /> <br />Hanging Lake <br />. , <br />in scemc <br />Glellwood <br />CClilvon. <br /> <br />.... I <br />~.,.. <br />.'. .....';'.-,. .;:.~f<_.' <br />"' '~"': .;- : <br />I <br /> <br />Bear Creek <br /> <br />Bear Creek, an imponant foothi:ls watershed \ja:~2d by C2-.':=: G2,': <br />anglers, suffers from chronic overuse and 'J'Iarm temperatures in 10W-INe::::f years. <br />It begins at the cre~st of Mt. Evans and flows through the east side of :he :',lount <br />Evans Wilderness. As it passes from Evergreen to Morrison and prior \:0 rr:erging <br />with the South Platte in Denver, the creek goes through t~(ee water treati71ent <br />plants and two reservoirs. These facilities increase water tf::"Jerature 2:-::: can <br />return water that is up to 68'F. In the summer of 2000/ a leri:a! cambin2tion of <br />low flows, high temperatures and unrestricted use led to a significant trout kill. <br /> <br />Bear Creek's temperature problems are exacerbated by rapid urb2ii ;rowth <br />and related impacts like private wells, golf course and lawn irrigation, storm <br />water runoff and roadway siltation. Below Morrison to the Bear Creek Reservoir, <br />the creek is too warm and depleted to support a healthy fishery, The reservoir <br />itself is hypereutrophic, unable to support fish without artificial oxygen. <br /> <br />..,......,..--, <br /> <br />f i <br />