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13 <br />•\ <br />Riparian habitats are especially sensitive to man's activities. <br />Activities which alter normal streamflows have the pptential to reduce <br />site quality for riparian vegetation and thus impair conditions for <br />fish as well as a broad spectrum of wildlife species. <br />It is essentially impossible to develop a coal mining operation in <br />a narrow valley system without displacing parts of the riparian ecosystem. <br />This already has occurred at the Allen Mine. Current policy at the mine <br />is protecting some streamside vegetation by prohibiting refuse dumping <br />up to the river bank as done in earlier years. <br />Stream Habitat <br />From the standpoint of fish production, and habitat for other <br />• aquatic organisms, the Purgatoire River is the drainage of interest here. <br />Streams that contribute to the headwaters of the Purgatoire River arise <br />in the Sangre de Cristo Range at elevations well above 10,000 feet. The <br />igneous terrains in this region create an environment from which high- <br />quality water is produced. However, gradual deterioration in quality <br />occurs as a natural consequence as the water flows downward across <br />sedimentary formations at lower elevations. <br />Temperatures, stream configuration and ratio of riffles to pools <br />generall;~ provide good trout habitat. Where cropland, grazing, mining <br />and other activities have not interferred, healthy riparian habitats have <br />developed to enhance the desirable physical characteristics of the <br />stream. The presence of a transient, but persistent population of <br />beaver, generally has added to the value of aquatic habitats: although <br />•` there have been problems resulting from beaver activi*_ies. These include <br />