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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I E N V I RON MEN TAL IMP ACT General In the lower two miles of its streambed, Little Dry Creek flows through a highly urbanized area in downtown Englewood. Little Dry Creek and tribu- taries studied in Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village are partly in developed residential areas and partly in open areas which are subject to development. Much of the development in these two municipalities is of a low-density type. In Arapahoe County and Douglas County, the stream flows through almost entirely undeveloped countryside. However, some of this countryside is subject to immediate development under plans which developers have underway. Development will, in any case, substantially change the environment in the streambed and flood plain of Little Dry Creek and tributaries. For example, the increased predator load of dogs and cats resulting from residential development can be expected to exterminate the population of ground-nesting birds observed in the area. For another example, in walking the streambed our inspection party flushed five red foxes each at a different location. With the influx of dogs accompanying residen- tial development, the foxes will be lost also. With the increased im- perviousness of developed areas over areas in their plains or farmland condition, increased runoff can be expected to occur which will erode the streambeds more rapidly unless protected by improvements to reduce velocities of flow and harden some areas against erosion. If the nat- ural environment is to be protected as much as possible, these improve- ments must be judiciously constructed to preserve vegetation in the flood plain area. The most severely damaging treatment to the natural environment may be observed in developments planned to make maximum use of acreage by straightening and relocating the streambed. An example is the Medema Homes development just south of Greenwood Village city limits in Arapahoe -67-