Laserfiche WebLink
<br />'. , <br />';, <br /> <br />b. Vegetation, wildlife and natural area. <br />The vegetation surrounding the site consists primarily of native conifer trees of <br />the Roosevelt National Forest. (Ref. 4). Trees such as pines, spruces, firs and <br />junipers abound and no known endangered specie of vegetation exists within the <br />project area. <br /> <br />'" <br /> <br />Roosevelt National Forest is one of the most important in the Rocky Mountain <br />Region as a source of water. It supplies water for irrigation, domestic use, power <br />and industry. There are 360,000 acres of rich agricultural lands and 25 towns and <br /> <br /> <br />,-:-;,: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Because the project area is in and/or near a National Forest, wildlife is relatively <br />plentiful. Mule deer, Yellowstone Elk, porcupines, coyotes, racoon, black bear, <br />weasels, mink, pine martin, badger, striped skunk, mountain lion and bobcat all <br />inhabit this area of Colorado. In addition, rainbow trout and brown trout are <br />found in the Big Thompson River within the project area. <br /> <br />Two known endangered species occupying the Roosevelt National Forest are <br /> <br />the Peregrine Falcon and the Greenback Native Trout. Neither of these have <br /> <br />been sighted within the project area or adjacent thereto, however. (Ref. 5). <br /> <br />: ,~ <br /> <br />The Big Thompson River itself is a major waterway of Colorado and furnishes <br />water for domestic purposes as well as supports agriculture in the plains east of <br />the canyon. The Big Thompson originates just east of the Continental Divide <br />near Notchtop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, <br />Colorado. It flows through the Big Thompson Canyon and empties into the South <br />Platte River near Greeley. The flows of the Big Thompson in the project area <br />vary from a mean low of 18.3 cubic feet per second in January to a mean high of <br />326 cubic feet per second in June. Total length of the Big Thompson is approx- <br />imately 40 miles. <br /> <br />,t~ <br /> <br />..-'i <br /> <br />c. Surrounding land uses and physical character of area: <br />The surrounding area consists of the mountains, canyons, and forests of the <br />Roosevelt National Forest. This National Forest was named in honor of the man <br />most responsible for creating the national forest system. Originally part of <br />Medicine Bow Forest Reserve established in 1897, it became the Colorado <br />National Forest in 1910. Not until 1932 did President Herbert Hoover rename <br />the forest in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. Today Roosevelt National <br />Forest consists of 782,000 acres. <br /> <br />"""' <br />l.; <br /> <br />r.~iiitl <br /> <br />13 <br />