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FLOOD CONTROL As evidenced by the July 31-August 1, 1976 disastrous flood in the Big Thompson Canyon, unusually severe storms can occur in the mountains and foothills of the Front Range. These storms yield high water flows causing tremendous damage to the canyons and adjacent foothills communities. Structural or management solutions to this problem can possibly be found, and it appears that substantial benefits can be derived if adequate flood control facilities are provided at or near the mountain-plains interface. Damaging floods have occurred in 1938, 1942, 1949, 1957, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1976 in various parts of the watershed area. Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek pose threats to developments on the flood plains in Boulder and the surrounding area. Flooding of St. Vrain Creek could cause serious damage to Lyons and Longmont, and the Cache la Poudre River to the north poses threats to developments on the flood plains in Fort Collins and the surrounding area. As of this date, the July 31-August 1, 1976 flood in the Big Thompson Canyon is estimated to have incurred damages amounting to over $33 million. FISH AND WilDLIFE The primary problems relating to fish and wildlife are preserving existing wetlands, lakes, and minimum streamflows. Here again, this nonconsumptive fish and wildlife use of the limited water supply must compete directly with consumptive uses. At present, owing to the many irrigation reservoirs within the area, the waterfowl population is well established and protected. However, increasing urbanization and pressures for recreational use of these reservoirs may decrease waterfowl populations and possibly change migratory resting and breeding habits in the future. Minimum streamflows are generally inadequate throughout the Front Range area, and as a result the water quality of these streams is such that only fair to poor fisheries can be maintained within the plains. Although some good-to-excellent trout fisheries are being maintained in the upper reaches of the Cache la Poudre and Little Thompson Rivers and St. Vrain and Boulder Creeks, the increasing population is beginning to strain the output of these fisheries. At the present time, some of the plains reservoirs that are privately owned provide good habitat for warm water fisheries. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Future development of the Front Range poses a threat to the environmental quality. The proximity of unprotected "mountain playgrounds" to the plains communities is jeopardizing native vegetation, terrestrial wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems. Scenic and aesthetic values are being adversely impacted by the conversion from an agricultural and natural setting to urban sprawl. Water, air, and noise qualities are deteriorating as urbanization spreads. More specifically, the adverse effects of secondary roads and vacation home developments are already quite evident in some areas. Use of four-wheel-drive vehicles is causing destruction of native vegetation, exposing soils to erosion and eliminating wildlife habitat. Displacement of wildlife is causing overpopulation of adjacent habitat, resulting in loss of numerous wild animals. Stream ecosystems are being altered by vegetative denudation, residential and industrial pollution, and water depletions. The natural and agricultural environment is being supplanted by artificial landscaping. And, finally, the air quality of the Front Range is being degraded more and more by pollution encroaching north from the Denver metropolitan area and from other communities as their populations expand. 1/1-7