Laserfiche WebLink
<br />1907 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />Within this area of Influence, the South Platte River is typical of <br />the streams on the plains east of the Rocky Mountains. Periodic floods <br />have formed a wide meandering streambed of loose sand and silt. The <br />low banks are partially stabilized by willows, alders, cottonwoods, and <br />other streamside vegetation. Cutoffs, secondary channels, and Islands <br />spread the water shallowly over a wide bed. The numerous diversion <br />dams have caused repeated low-flow stages In most of the river. The <br />river Is heavily polluted from the metropolitan areas of Denver, <br />Greeley, and Fort Collins. Pollution will be alleviated with construe. <br />tlon of a sewage treatment plant nearing completion downstream from <br />Denver at the confluence of Clear Creek and the South Platte River. <br /> <br />The South Platte River In the project area offers poor game-fish <br />habitat. Carp, bullheads, suckers, and various species of minnows <br />are present In the river. The poor stream fishery does not attract <br />many fishermen since there are several good warmwater fishing res- <br />ervoirs in the area such as Jackson, North Sterl ing, and Julesburg <br />Reservoirs. Fishing In the rIver Is Insignificant and could be <br />expected to remain so without the project. . <br /> <br />With the Project <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Narrows Reservoir would inundate about 15.5 miles of the South Platte <br />River and would have about 14;963 surface acres at top of the joInt <br />use pool. The minimum pool would be about 3,631 acres. There is <br />good fishing in the offstream reservoirs mentioned above. As Indi- <br />cated below, Narrows Reservoir would not have the good quality habitat <br />of these smaller reservoirs; however, the fishing would be good. <br /> <br />The large annual fluctuations Inherent In Narrows Reservoir and Its <br />extensive silt and mud bottom Indicates that plant and aquatic Insect <br />production would not be great. However, plankton should thrive and <br />food chains based on plankton would become established and support <br />a good warmwater fishery. Principal game fish would include walleye, <br />northern pike, largemouth bass, white bass, crappies, other sunfishes, <br />and catfish. Since carp and other nongame fish are present In the <br />river, it seems likely that one of the fishery management problems <br />at Narrows Reservoir would be the control of nongame fish. <br /> <br />Because of its size and location, Narrows Reservoir could be expected <br />to attract large numbers of fIshermen. Approximately 1,5 million <br />people reside wIthin two hours driving time of the reservoir. Conse- <br />quently, It Is estimated that with the project fishing on the reservoir <br />would average about 100,000 man-days annually. <br /> <br />. <br />