WSP06933

• File Number: 8272.500
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Colo Dept of Public Health - WQCC and WQCD
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 11/1/1989
• Author: WQCD
• Title: Colorado Nonpoint Assessment Report - November 1989
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

The North Fork of the South Platte originates near the continental Divide on

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the east side of Kenosha Pass. The North Fork carries elevated levels of

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heavy metals. These metals occur in several consecutive segments of the North

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Fork, originating in the Hall Valley, Horseshoe, and Sacramento mining

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to the confluence with the South Platte River. Handcart Gulch high in the

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Hall Valley also carries elevated levels of these metals. According to the

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Colorado Division of Wildlife, a poor fishery exists from the headwaters of

the North Fork to Grant. Downstream of Grant an average fishery is present

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with both rainbow and brown trout naturally reproducing. . Metals are

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attributed with restricting the fishery potential of the North Fork. At Grant

Geneva Creek flows into the North Fork. Geneva Creek carries elevated

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concentrations of metals. These metals may be the result of historic mining

in the upper reaches of Geneva Creek, but iron. springs and bogs also

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contribute metals to Geneva Creek.

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As the South Platte leaves the mountains and enters the plains it is a good

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quality stream which supports a trout fishery. Chatfield Reservoir, located

on the mainstem of the South Platte near its confluence with Plum Creek, is a

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major 'recreational resource for the Metropolitan Denver region. Major land

developments have accelerated" erosion and resultant phosphorus loading in the

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reservoir. Based on a Clean Lakes study of Chatfield Reservoir, a' standard of

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