ISFAPPC04246

• Case Number: 00CW0101
• Stream Name: Fourmile Creek
• Watershed: Fourmile Creek
• Water Division: 2
• Water District: 12
• County: Fremont
• Instream Flow App - Doc Type: Supplemental Data

populations can develop. Further extended decreases will result in more sensitive species. If
only brook trout can survive after a reclamation project is completed fishery results and
economic benefits to the community can be substantial.

2.0 DESCRIPTION QfISTUDY AREA

Fourmile Creek originates in the mountains north ofthe town of Cripple Creek in Teller County.
Approximately 13 miles of stream was sampled during this field investigation (Figure 1). Four
stations were sampled along the stream. The uppermost station, Station One, was located 0.5
miles above the confluence of Fourmile Creek and eripple Creek, at an elevation of 6,900 feet.
This station was 21.3 miles upstream of the confl~ence of Fourmile Creek and the Arkansas
River. Station Two was 20.1 miles upstream of ~he confluence of Fourmile Creek and the
Arkansas River, at a elevation of 6,800 feet, just be~ow the Carlton Tunnel. Station Three was
located below the Shelf Road at an elevation of 6,160 feet, 14.7 miles upstream of the
confluence of Fourmile Creek and the Arkansas River. The final station 1 Station 4, was located
just north of Canon City at an elevation of 5,680 feet. This station was located approximately
- 8.2 miles above the confluence of the Arkansas River, where Fourmile Creek enters at an
elevation of 5,240 feet.

3.0 METIIODS ANDiMATERIALS

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Information regarding fish populations, macroinvertebrates, and water quality were collected at
?,lch station. Fish sampling was conducted with a Coffelt Model 2C bank unit, converted to
2,000 watts. Each fish was identified to species, measured for length to the nearest millimeter,
and weighed to the nearest gram on an electronic OHAUS scale.

Macroinvertebrates were collected using a kick scre\m methodology. One sample was collected
from a riffle area at each station. Using this methQdology a fine meshed net four feet long by
three feet high was placed in the stream. The stream bed upstream of the net was disturbed by
kicking the substrate for 30 seconds. Material dislOdged from the substrate was swept into the,
net -by the current. Larger rocks and debris' were removed and discarded after all
macroinvertebrates had been picked 'from this material,' The smaller debris and
macroinvertebrates in the net were placed into a gll1Ss jar, preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol, and
returned to the laboratory for identification and enllmeration. Identification was carried out to
the species level when possible. This information IS presented in Table 3.

Water quality samples were collected at all four s*ions. Station One was the control station,
as it was above the mining contamination. The parameters that were analyzed included those
of temperature, pH, total alkalinity, phenol alkalinity, and total hardness. The metals, cadmium
and copper, were measured in "total" and "dissolve9" fractions. The reader is referred to Table
2.

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