FLOOD01339

• County: Larimer
• Community: Loveland
• Stream Name: Big Thompson River
• Title: Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a License to Re-construct, Operate, and Maintain the Loveland Project
• Date: 11/1/1977
• Prepared For: FERC
• Prepared By: Loveland
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Miscellaneous

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The Big Tompson Canyon is served by U. S. Highway #34 connecting with Interstate 25
just east of loveland. It traverses the Big Thompson Canyon for approximately 25 miles to
the City of Estes Park, the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

The forest is a National Forest protected by the Federal Government and air pOllution and
noise pollution are minimal. Some sand and silt pollution of the Big Thompson River has
occurred since the !iood, caused primarily by construction equipment excavating and filling
in the vicinity of Drake in the main river, and the North Fork. It is anticipated that the river
will return to its good pre-flood quality when all repairs and replacement construction has
been completed, probably some time in the early 1980's.

Overall the existing physical environment is one of natural beauty. As the last remaining
signs of the disastrous flood are removed and/or repaired, it appears that the beauty of Big
Thompson Canyon will be preserved, if not enhanced.

A

FISH

Prior to the flood of 1976 fishing in the Bi9 Thompson River was considered to fair to good.
Game fish found in the River were rainbow trout Salmo galrdnerl, native trout Salmo clarki,
brown trout Salmo trutla Ilnnaeous, and brook trout Salvellnus fontlnalls. In addition, rough
fish such as western light sucker Costostomus commersoni and long nose dace
Rhlnlchthys Cataroctae were found in pools near the lower end of the River.

The velocity and magnitude of the flood destroyed 80%-90% of all fish life in the Big
Thompson. Re-establishment of fisheries in the Big Thompson is now underway under the
operation of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. When the dam is completed the state plans
to stock the river with 6,000 Ibs. of legal size -:atchable rainbow trout each year.

B

WILDLIFE

The Roosevelt National Forest is abundant in wildlife. The following is a list of wildlife which can
be found in the surrounding area:

Mule Deer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adocoileus hemionus
Bighorn Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ovis canadensis

Elk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cervus canadensis
Black Bear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euractos americanus

Bobcat. . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lynx Rufus