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<br />INTRODUCTION <br />Originating near the base of the Dunckley Flat Tops area <br />of the Routt National Forest in northwestern Colorado, Foidel <br />Creek, an unnamed tributary of Foidel Creek, Middle Creek, and <br />Fish Creek, eventually flow into Trout Creek, a tributary of the <br />Yampa River near Steamboat Springs (Figure 1). The segments of <br />these creeks included within the study area lie between 2,012 <br />and 2,256 m (6,600 and 7,400 ft) elevation. While the watersheds <br />of the upper portions of these waterways are vegetated with aspen <br />and conifers, the stream sections sampled during this study flow <br />through a more xeric environment where sagebrush and grasses <br />dominate the riparian plant community. Portions of Foidel Creek, <br />its unnamed tributary, and Middle Creek may become intermittent <br />during mid to late summer and fall seasons. Human activities <br />affecting these streams include irrigation diversions, hay farming, <br />grazing, and coal mining activity. <br />Aquatic sampling stations on these four waterways were <br />established during the summer of 1980 (Harner-White Ecological <br />• Consultants, 1980 and 1981). Station 2 on Foidel Creek and Station <br />2 on Fish Creek, were previously estalished and sampled in 1975 <br />(Dames and Moore, 1975) and 1979 (ERT/Ecology Consultants, 1979). <br />;_ Foidel Creek's Station 1 was also included in the 1979 sampling <br />effort. <br /> <br />The 1981 sampling program followed the procedure and pattern <br />designed by Harner-White Ecological Consultants (1980 and 1981). <br />Three sampling stations occur on the unnamed tributary to Foidel <br />Creek (see attached map). Station 1 is located upstream of coal <br />mining activity. Station 2 is located downstream of Station 1, <br />and is below present mining activity. Station 3 is even further <br />downstream, and lies immediately below a settling pond. This <br />last station is just upstream of a Foidel Creek station sampled <br />in 1975 and 1979. Further details regarding the distance between <br />stations on each of the four creeks are provided by Harner-White <br />Ecological Consultants, Inc. (1980 and 1981). <br />Foidel Creek's four sampling stations are illustrated on <br />the attached map and follow a similar pattern. Station 1 is <br />located above all coal mining activity. Station 2 is positioned <br />just downstream of coal mining activity. Station 3 is downstream <br />of Station 2, but upstream of proposed mining activity (upper <br />Hinckle area). Station 4 is further downstream and located below <br />the potential influence of proposed mining operations (lower <br />Hinckle area). Because all four stations on Foidel Creek were <br />dry at the time of sampling, a Station 5 site was established <br />• <br />