WSP04146 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Front Range study area extends in a north-south direction from the Wyoming State line to the southern border of Boulder County, including Coal Creek Canyon, and in a west-east direction from the city of Boulder and Carter Lake in Larimer County to and including the city of Greeley in Weld County. Other principal cities in the area include Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland (exhibit 11-1). The South Platte is the major river in the area, its principal tributaries being the Cache la Poudre and Big Thompson Rivers and St. Vrain Creek. The Little Thompson River and Boulder Creek are important tributaries to the Big Thompson River and St. Vrain Creek, respectively. Minor tributaries include South Boulder, Coal, and Lefthand Creeks. Although not within the confines of the study area, the city of Estes Park was also included in the investigations because of its support in these studies and interest in being included in water resource development of the Front Range area. Likewise, the adjacent and higher watersheds of the South Platte River directly east of the Continental Divide were included in the studies because of their important part in the Front Range water picture. The Front Range is truly a scenic area, particularly from the foothills looking eastward to the vast panoramas of the Great Plains and westward to the majestic snowcapped Rockies. Here are found numerous manmade reservoirs and natural lakes, low-lying canyons, boulder outcroppings, wooded areas, and mountain meadows. The terrain along the foothills is rugged, contrasting dramatically with the rolling, undulating topography of the plains to the east. Elevations range from above 14,000 feet at the Continental Divide to about 4,700 feet at Greeley. In the extreme western part of the Front Range are found such outstanding scenic and recreational features as Longs Peak (elevation 14,256), ~!i\~~ ~~ 1f~~ ~~@~1f ~!i\~@~ ~@~!i\W Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge, Roosevelt National Forest, Indian Peaks, and Arapahoe National Forest. The climate of the area is as diversified. as its topography. The mountains have a rigorous climate with heavy snowfall and a short growing season. Summer temperatures at these higher elevations seldom exceed 900 F, and killing frosts are likely to occur throughout the summer. In the foothills, the climate is a transition between that of the plains and the mountains. Precipitation ranges between 15 and 20 inches annually. The frost-free period here is about 160 days. The climate of the plains is characterized by low humidity, light rainfall, warm summers, and cold winters. Near the foothills, the precipitation averages about 15 inches annually and it decreases eastward to a low of about 12 inches in the vicinity of Greeley. Thunderstorms of short duration but with intense rainfall are common during the summer months along the entire Front Range. Vegetation of the area varies with altitude, soil maturity, moisture, and exposure. Grasslands and croplands dominate the plains with groves of trees in isolated areas, whereas trees dominate the higher mesas and foothill slopes at the base of the mountains. Aquatic life found in the streams and lakes of the foothills and lower elevations consists primarily of rainbow and brown trout, suckers, chubs, and yellow perch. In the high elevations, cold-water species include cutthroat, brook, and lake trout as well as Rocky Mountain whitefish and coho salmon. Warm-water fish in the plains include largemouth bass, catfish, walleyed pike, crappie, and a variety of other species. 11-1