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<br />highest value wetland complexes within the assessment area are located within
<br />this watershed. Approximately seven percent (52 acres) of the watershed has been
<br />mapped as wetlands, It is also the only watershed that has not been subjected
<br />to recent development. Probably the most unstable area is where the Willow and
<br />Owl Creek Ditch enters Spring Creek near its headwaters, The influx of diverted
<br />water to this small stream has caused eroding, unstable banks. The few existing
<br />trail crossings contribute a minor amount of sediment into the stream course.
<br />The watershed is more dissected at lower elevations with a very hummocky
<br />topography, indicating previous landform instability. The geology and landforms
<br />of Spring Creek are prone to mass movement and soil creep.
<br />
<br />Aquatic invertebrates are abundant and indicate relatively good water quality
<br />conditions. Cutthroat trout have been stocked in Owl Creek, and it is believed
<br />that some still inhabit the lower reaches. However, due to diversions and land
<br />disturbance in its lower reaches, fish would probably not be capable of migrating
<br />into Spring Creek, No resident fish have been observed.
<br />
<br />East Fork Brush Creek Watershed
<br />
<br />The East Fork of Brush Creek has a watershed area of 2,109 acres (3,3 square
<br />miles), of which 1,705 acres (2,67 square miles) are NFSL within the permit area,
<br />The western portion of Burnt Mountain is within this watershed. There are
<br />approximately 10,1 miles of streams within the permit boundary, of which 6,8
<br />miles (56%) are perennial,
<br />
<br />The Willow and Owl Creek Ditch traverses the upper portion of the watershed,
<br />Approximately 1,000 feet of the channel is culverted, There are 3,5 miles of
<br />roads and 2,6 miles of trails within the permit area portion of the watershed,
<br />along with utility corridors for water, electricity, sewer and telephone. There
<br />are 227 acres of cleared ski trails, Off-site, Owl Creek and Highline Roads are
<br />within the basin; there is limited development of private lands within the
<br />watershed at this time,
<br />
<br />The stream does not appear to have been degraded considerably by human activity
<br />to date on NFSL. Several trails and unimproved roads cross the stream, but
<br />sedimentation associated with these crossings does not persist far downstream.
<br />The high gradient of these streams, coupled with high spring flows, probably
<br />results in the flushing of sediment further downstream,
<br />
<br />Aquatic invertebrates present indicate relatively good water quaility.
<br />habitat is marginal throughout most of the stream, Fish sampling indicates
<br />brook and brown trout inhabit the Creek's lower portion; however, no fish
<br />been captured on NFSL.
<br />
<br />There are approximately 69 acres of identified wetlands (4,1% of the watershed)
<br />within the permit area portion of this watershed. Approximately 26 acres of
<br />wetlands have been mapped at East Village,
<br />
<br />Fish
<br />that
<br />have
<br />
<br />Summary. 27
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<br />
<br />West Fork Brush Creek Watershed
<br />
<br />The West Fork of Brush Creek has a watershed area of 1,583 acres (2,5 square
<br />miles) of which 1,465 acres (1,87 square miles) are NFSL within the permit area.
<br />There are slightly more than 6 miles of streamcourses within the permit boundary,
<br />of which 3,3 miles (55%) are perennial.
<br />
<br />This creek drains the Baldy Mountain portion of the ski area and has been
<br />significantly altered. Within the permit area, almost 2,000 feet of the channel
<br />is culverted, and just below the Forest boundary another 200 feet is culverted,
<br />Off-site, a large portion of West Village is within the watershed. The Snowmass
<br />Water and Sanitation District (SWSD) uses the West Fork as one of its primary
<br />sources of water.
<br />
<br />Aquatic invertebrate taxa are similar to other streams within the assessment
<br />area, with the exception of a few sediment-tolerant species. Brook and brown
<br />
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