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The total permanent population of Bear Creek watershed has remained :! t , nearlY,constant for the past 50 years. (4,7). In 1950 approximately 40.7 percent of the 2000 residents in the Bear Creek watershed lived on farms (7), which are scattered throughout the eastern two-thirds of the watershed. jJ The remainder of the population, rural non-fa.rm , is concentrated along tl'le Bear Creele valley between Evergreen and the South Platte River (map 5). . . . ! Also there are several thousand summer homo residents not included in the official cenGUs but who occupy their homes for periods of from one to four ( months. Since floods always occur during the su.m;ner months, it is estimated that 1000 people are directly affected by floods principally in the section from a little below Evergreen to !.lorricon. Possibly there are 2500 more people exclusive of itinerants indirectly affected by floods through th9 destruction of highways and the resultant decline in tourist traffic and SUllllller visitors. Approximately 51 percent of Bear Creek \Hl.tershed was in public owner- ship in 1955 (table 2). Of this amount the Federal Government owned about three-fourths, principally the Arnpnho National. Forest which occupies the western tip of the watershed. The city of Denver owned scattered areas in the central portion of the watershed and the state of Colorado ameli a I.lection or two of school lands in nearly eveI"'J township. Tax certificate land reverting to the county ns a IIlinor item, 0.9 percent. In 1955, approximately 69 percent of Bear Creek ntershed Jias privately owned. Lands oYl!led by residents of the county constituted 30.7 percent, by non-residents 25.8 percent and by corporations 12.2 percent. The ownership boundaries consti~~d a hodge-podge of patterns Y People classed a8 rural non-farm either live in villeges of less than 2,500 population or have rural residences on farms. -5- .