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.. 002255 COAL CREEK AND ROCK CREEK WATERSHED Reconnaissance Report December 1978 '---:1(_, % ',fj)?!p\.Jr:!,--,~, " , -, ~ Il 7' l JANZ 5 1979 j. . CUi.. ' ) .cONSERV~TiON '" . , L'..... . .":;' Watershed Description The Coal Creek and Rock Creek Watershed is located primarily in the southeastern portion of Boulder County. The two creeks drain about 79 square miles. They empty into Boulder Creek just north of Erie. The watershed is about 28 miles (45 km) long and has an average width of less than 3 miles. Elevations range from 10,500 feet (3,200 m) mean sea level in the upper reaches of the watershed to about 4,954 feet (1,510 m) at the Boulder Creek confluence. In the late 1800's coal mining led to the development of the communities of Erie, Lafayette, Louisvi11~, and Superior along the banks of Coal Creek. The coaJ reserves have diminished causing most of the mines to shut down. Presently the major land use is agriculture; however, new industries and home seekers from the Boulder-Denver metropolitan area have brought additional residents into the watershed. The population in the watershed was estimated at 7,200 people in 1970. Demographic projections show the 1990 population to be over 52,000 people. Other Studies In 1963 the Boulder Valley Soil Conservation District and the Jefferson Soil Conservation District made an application for assistance under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (PL 83-566). The project objectives were: (a) reduction of floodwater damage, (b) reduction of sediment damage, (c) improvement of irrigation water storage facilities, (d) improvement in domestic water storage facilities, and (e) development of water based recreation facilities. I "Watershed planning assistance was approved in June 1965. By September 1967 it had been determined that a feasible flood prevention project could be constructed if the land needed for the structures could be acquired' for less than $500 per acre. This estimate was based on an interest rate of 3 1/4%. It was also determined that storage for M & I water was needed but the cost associated for M & I water storage would be allocated to the local sponsors. In 1970 SCS planning assistance was suspended as the committees looked for other sources of funding for M & I water supplies. The communities of Erie, Lafayette, Louisville and Superior in 1968 organ- ized themselves into the Coal Creek Water and Sanitation Association to address M & I water supply problems. In 1969, the Bureau of Reclamation initiated a comprehensive feasibility investigation of long range solu- tions to water supply problems of the Front Range Unit, Colorado. This study area extends from the Wyoming border south to the Coal Creek drainage area and includes major portions of Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Count i es. ~ ! .",_, __~n____ _.___.'_"___ __._____._ ___._.~ _~~~.____.._._______._.~____.