Laserfiche WebLink
<br />U~lq~G <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />miles upstream (west) from Trinidad, generally demarcates a change <br /> <br />. in the biotic quality of the Purgatoire River. Upstream, conditions <br /> <br />are favorable for the development of aquatic communities, and all <br /> <br />of the waters above Weston are rated as good fisheries. Monument <br /> <br />and North Lakes are popular recreation areas, containing, respectively, <br /> <br />populations of rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon, and a few <br /> <br />western white suckers, and rainbow and brook trout. A recent electro- <br /> <br />fishing survey of the Purgatoire River upstream from Weston by the <br /> <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife revealed the presence of brown and <br /> <br />brook trout, western white suckers, and various minnows. <br /> <br />Downstream from Weston, many of the biotic and abiotic parameters <br /> <br />required by aquatic plants and animals rapidly deteriorate and are <br /> <br />reflected in the poverty of aquatic biota. Limitations due to flash <br />floods, turbidity, sandy substratum, low flows, scarcity of pools <br /> <br />for cover, limited food production areas, and vegetative shoreline <br /> <br />severely limit the presence and development of aquatic life. The <br />benethic community is quite limited. What few fish survive consist <br />of a few suckers and minnows. <br /> <br />Generally, streams reflect the condition of the watershed and <br /> <br />its use. The Purgatoire River is no exception. The extensive coal <br /> <br />mining in the early part of the century and prolonged overgrazing <br />have contributed much to its present condition between Weston and <br />Trinidad. <br />5. ArcheoloRical and Historical Resources. Continuous <br />coordination and cooperation has been maintained among the National <br /> <br />11-23 <br />