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1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background 'and Objective/Purpose At the request of the Cripple Creek and Victor Mining Company (CC+V) the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) agreed to monitor the aquatic community of Fourmile Creek on an annual basis beginning in 1994. The object of this monitoring project is to determine if mining activities of the CC+V in and around Victor, Colorado cause any impacts to the Fourmile Creek Basin aquatic community, Historic fisheries data on Fourmile Creek were collected as part of the state's 319 nonpoint pollution program, Section 319 was added to the Federal Clean Water Act during the 1987 reauthorization of the law. The aim of Section 319 was to address the issue of nonpoint water pollution where either drinking water or fish populations were affected, This program required states to inventory waters for non point pollution, The DOW assisted the Colorado Water Quality Control Division (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) by conducting stream surveys, Fourmile Creek was inventoried in the fall of 1988 (Martin 1992), Fourmile Creek was not considered a priority at that time for listing as a potential 319 cleanup location. In fact, Fourmile Creek was considered an example of a high-quality, high-diversity fish community. Most trout streams in Colorado contain one or two species of fish. Six species of fish were found at one site on Fourmile Creek in 1988, Population estimate data from the 1988 survery are not included in the current document because different sites were sampled in 1988 compared to 1994 and 1995. Different sites were selected in 1995 due to legal access issues, In 1990 the DOW created and implemented the statewide River Watch water- quaJity monitoring and education program that trains students and teachers how to sample local rivers and analyze samples for baseline water-quality parameters, such as pH, hardness and alkalinity, Samples collected and preserved by the schools are analyzed by the DOW for metals, Canon City High is near the mouth of Fourmile Creek. Canon City High teachers and students were trained and given equipment in 1991. The school initially sampled stations on the Arkansas River. As interest and knowledge at Canon City High 'school expan.ded"the.students began to sample Fourmile CreeUn 1994"..!n 1994 a relationship was established between Canon City High School, DOW and CC+V, The Division provided more sampling equipment, technical support, permits and coordination. The mine provided support and purchased equipment for the school. The school provided the interest, enthusiasm and labor. As a result water-quality samples are collected once a month at two locations, and biological sampling is conducted every fall at three locations, Students learn more about a resource in'their community and related science topics. The DOW and the CC+V obtain valuable information to make more informed management decisions in the future.