WSP01414

• File Number: 8449.918
• Description: South Platte Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 8/1/1982
• Author: CWCB
• Title: South Platte River Basin Assessment Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

located within the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, and the mainstem Bear

Creek, including all tributaries to the inlet of Perry Park Reservoir in

Dcuglas County (Colorado Department of Health, 1981).

The mainstem South Platte River from the hpadwaters of the South and Midrlle

Fork to its confluence with Tarryall Creek is designated as a recreation

Class I stream. Many segments of streams that are tributary to the South

Platte River, including Deer Creek, East and West Plum Creek, Turkey Creek,

Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek, also are designated as recreation

Class I waters (Colorado Department of Health, 1981). This classification

describes stream segments that are used for primary water contact sports or

are relatively free of pollution. Other mountain streams of the basin are

classified as recreation Class II waters where water contact sports do not

exist and where important aquatic life may be affected adversely by

chlorination to meet recreation Class I standards. These streams in the

South Platte River basin would include the upper segments of, for example,

the Big Thompson River and St. Vrain Creek. Other stream waters within the

basin are designated as recreation Class II because they represent water

that has been affected by municipal effluent discharge or agriculture

return flows.

Waters within the South Platte River basin also are classifien as cold

aquatic life Class I and Class II and warm aquatic life Class I and

Class II. As might be expected, most mountain streams ano reservoirs are

classified as cold water aquatic life Class I (water temperatures less than

200C); whereas, many of the streams within the plains are described as warm

water aquatic life Class II (water temperature greater than 20oC). Streams

designated with an aquatic life C]ass I standard represent reasonably good

quality habitat, in contrast to aquatic life Class II, which is habitat

restricted and which would apply, for example, to certain plains tribu-

taries which experience small summer flows.

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