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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />supported by water entering the riparian zone from off-site <br />(Dawson and Ehleringer 1991). Research at the "Cottonwood Grove" <br />along Boulder Creek just east of the City of Boulder has shown <br />that the groundwater under the riparian vegetation is supported <br />by water originating from off-site, not from the Creek (Scott et <br />al. 1991). Thus, each riparian ecosystem must be evaluated <br />separately to determine its water source. If a riparian <br />ecosystem is supported by groundwater system that originates off- <br />site, then most likely many changes to the hydrologic regime of <br />the adjacent stream will have little effect on the vegetation. <br />However, if the groundwater system is connected to the adjacent <br />stream, then stream water changes could affect the vegetation. <br />Maintaining the integrity of the riparian ecosystem and <br />ecological functions performed by riparian vegetation along <br />Little Dry Creek in Greenwood Village, Colorado is vital to the <br />residents of this region. Maintaining healthy riparian <br />vegetation requires maintaining the water source that plants use <br />and the ecological processes necessary for future plant <br />establishment. An understanding of the connection between the <br />surface water in Little Dry Creek and the groundwater that the <br />plants utilize is essential. <br />An application for water rights that would affect the flow <br />of Little Dry Creek, has been submitted by Glenmoor Country Club. <br />Therefore, I initiated this study of the hydrologic connection <br />between Little Dry Creek and the groundwater system that riparian <br />vegetation is rooted in to determine if a surface water diversion <br />could have a negative impact on this groundwater system and the <br />vegetation. The study goal is to determine if, and how much, <br />water could be removed from Little Dry Creek and still retain the <br />environment that sustains this ecosystem to a reasonable degree. <br />This study was done in cooperation with the Colorado <br />Division of wildlife (CDOW). Jay Skinner of CDOW has maintained <br />the stream staff gauges, converted stream water elevations to <br />flow in cubic feet per second (cfs), and is responsible for <br />determining minimum stream flows for fishes. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br />