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Water quality in the North Fork is also influenced by Paonia Peservoir. <br />• 't'his reservoi_~ provides a siltation basin for the large amount o£ sediment <br />cemirg down from the Muddy Creek drainage and thus aids in the clarity of <br />downstream waters. In addition, water temperatures and probably other water <br />duality factors are modif ied from storage and release from the reservoir. <br />In general, the North Fork can be considered a cold-to-cool xater stream <br />of moderate elevations, xith a moderate slope. Stream elevation below Paonia <br />heservoir is atnut 6280 feet, while at Paoaia it is 5610, and at the mouth it <br />is 5100 feet. The overall drop of the river between Paonia Reservoir and the <br />mouth of the North Fork is 1180 feet in approximately 35 river miles, for an <br />average slope of 34 feet mile. <br />The river section below Paonia Reservoir is tree lined along most of its <br />banks, generally with a thin line of cottonwood or willox. However, because <br />• of a wide channel (100-200 feet in most places, and relatively small trees, <br />there is not a B=eat deal of shading of the water. In other areas meadow <br />~~asses and horsetail (Eeuisetum~ come down to the edge of the stream, and in <br />many places orchazds are planted near the stream bank. <br /> <br />z-6 <br />