FLOOD04497 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

SUMMARY The Colo~ado State Soi I Conse~vation Boa~d (CSSCB) and the Colo~ado Association of Sol I Conse~vation Dlst~icts (CASCD) ~ega~d st~eambank e~osion as a majo~ ~esou~ce p~oblem within the State of Colo~ado. They ~equested the Soi I Conse~vation Se~vice (SCS) to conduct a "study of the p~oblem." P~oblem a~eas identified th~oughout the state we~e sc~eened to dete~mine high p~io~ity a~eas fo~ detai led study. Ten (10) p~oblem a~eas, I isted below, we~e selected fo~ evaluation [SEE STUDY AREA MAP]. Cu~~ant C~eek Dolo~es Rive~ Elk Rive~ Ke~be~ C~ee.k Lake Fo~k Little Thompson Rive~ Lowe~ Fountain C~eek No~th Fo~k Gunnison Rive~ Uncompahg~e Rive~ White Rive~ A field ~eview was conducted in each of these a~eas. Compa~ison of old maps/photos along with newe~ maps/photos was made to dete~mine the movement of the st~eam's channels. The p~esent USDA method of economic evaluation of benef i ts and the do II a~ va I ue ass i gned to bank e~os i on may not suppo~t p~oject type t~eatment. Non-p~oject type t~eatment of bank e~osion has been going on since man settled along st~eams and may possibly sti I I be the best app~oach to t~eating the p~oblem. The value of the land and c~ops damaged would not justify any extensive installation of p~actices. Damages to ~oads, d i ve~s ions, pipe lines, houses and outbu i I dings may justify the installation of some ~ock ~ip~ap o~ ~ock jetty type st~uctu~es. Th~ee study a~eas: Lake Fo~k, Ke~be~ C~eek, and Little Thompson Rive~ have wate~ qual ity p~oblems. Lake Fo~k and Ke~be~ C~eek also have e~osion of mine tai I ings that yield sediment which contain damaging chemical elements. Little Thompson Rive~ is located in a p~edominantly i~~igated ag~icultu~e basin. It ca~~ies high levels of salt concent~ations and sediment in i~~igation ~etu~n flows.