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<br /> <br />----- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />) <br />l <br /> <br />--~ <br />? <br />} <br />( <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />\ \ <br />NlwoAo\ " <br />1 <br />~ , <br />,~,? € <br /> <br />/ ",1'; \ I <br />r':1;t~ <br />Bouldilr;;, <br />Res~~""'~ " <br /> <br />/- iX ile <br /> <br />~ iJ <br />~an <br />r;, 7" c,; f <br />"r;;;, <br />~--.JJ <br /> <br /> <br />BASIN MAP <br /> <br /> <br />NO SCALE <br /> <br />PLATE 1 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND INFORMATION <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />SETTLEMENT <br />The settlement of Boulder County and the Dry Creek basin <br />essentially began in 1540 when Don Francesco De Coronado and his <br />party entered what Is now Colorado. The area was occupied essen- <br />tially only by Ute and Arapahoe Indians until Major Stephen H. Long <br />entered the Boulder County area in 1820. In the 1830's, fur trap- <br />pers and traders came into the area and built numerous trading posts <br />along the South Platte River east of the Dry Creek basin. The dis- <br />covery of gold In Colorado In 1858 brought an Influx of people to <br />the area;1n search of wealth and status. Many of these fortune <br />seekers left the area disappointed at not having become wealthy. <br />Those who were agriculturally oriented, however, turned to agricul- <br />tural pursuits and established permanent settlements In the Dry <br />Creek basin. <br /> <br />The present day area In the vicinity of the Dry Creek <br />basin Is primarily devoted to agriculture. However, due to the <br />close proximity of the area to the Denver metropolitan area, resi- <br />dential and Industrial development Is occurring In the basin. <br /> <br />THE STREAM AND ITS VALLEY <br />Dry Creek drains an area of about 34 square miles in north <br />central Colorado. Of these 34 square miles, approximately 22 square <br />miles are located downstream from Boulder Reservoir. The basin Is <br />about 19 miles long and about 3.5 miles wide at Its most extreme <br />points. The basin Is located entirely east of the Rocky Mountains. <br />Elevations In the basin range from about 6400 feet mean sea level <br />(m.s.I.) at the headwaters to about 4900 feet m.s.l. at the conflu- <br />ence of Dry Creek and St. Vraln Creek. Vegetation In the basin Is <br />typified by agricultural crops, grasslands, and Intermittent stands <br />