River Protection Information Sheet

Home Browse Search

History: Born's Lake is one of the first fisheries in the area. Homesteading, cattle ranching, mining and the timber industry are part of the history and culture of the area. Private Property: There are private lands in the watersheds. Residents value their privacy, access, water, land and ability to make a living off the land. Recreation: The area is used for a wide variety of recreational activities including: • artistic endeavors (e.g., landscape painting, photography. etc.) • backpacking • fishing and float fishing • hiking • horseback riding • hot springs use • hunting • mountain-biking • motorized use (Off Highway Vehicles) • mushrooming and other plant viewing/gathering activities • quiet use of the public lands • recreational geology (rock hounding and gold prospecting) • skiing (cross country) • snowmobiling • whitewater boating • wildlife viewing (e.g. bird watching) Scenery: The area is very beautiful. The West Fork is the gateway, many believe, to all of Southwest Colorado when traveling down off Wolf Creek Pass from the east. Terrestrial wildlife: Some of the wildlife species common in the area include: elk, mule deer, black bear, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, beaver, snowshoe hare, and Merriam's turkey. In addition, the USFS identifies "Sensitive Species" some of which are known or likely to occur in the area. The Colorado Division of Wildlife's (CDOW) State Wildlife Action Plan identifies species most in need of pro-active conservation measures. The CDOW Plan identifies a 2-tiered list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need, with Tier I species having the most urgent need. A handout is available that provides more information. Fish: Species in the East Fork and West Fork of the San Juan River mainstem and many of the tributaries include but are not limited to cutthroat rainbow, brown and brook trout and the mottled sculpin. The Colorado Division of Wildlife ("CDOW') has fishing regulations in place on Himes Creek and Beaver Creek, including the use of artificial flies and lures only, and catch-and-release only for all cutthroat trout. There is a multi-agency Aquatic Management Plan in place for the San Juan River Basin. According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), there are many wild- trout tributary streams in the Focus Area, including Quartz Creek and Sand Creek. Also, there are several Conservation Populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout including Himes, Beaver, and Elk creeks tributaries to the West Fork. A Conservation Population of cutthroat trout is generally defined as being 90% or more genetically pure. Brook, rainbow, and brown trout are common in the upper San Juan. Brook trout become increasingly common as one moves into the smaller tributaries. There is also a robust population of native suckers starting several miles above Pagosa Springs and extending to Navajo Reservoir. Bluehead suckers are the most abundant native sucker above Pagosa Springs. However, some flannelmouth suckers also occupy this reach. Suckers are not sport fish but are natives. Mottled sculpin and specked dace are common in the lower reach, and mottled sculpin occupy most of the basin until stream gradients become too steep in the tributaries. Most high-elevation lakes that feed the East and West Forks are stocked with Colorado River cutthroat trout fingerlings. A number of these lakes contain brook-trout populations as well. More