What We Do
The LFWS has been concentrating its efforts in watershed
education, assessment, restoration, and strategic watershed
planning. Since 2003, three grants totaling nearly $200,000
and over 3000 hours of volunteer time have been received
toward these ends.
We have conducted numerous public information and
planning meetings, with such topics as water quality, mine
permitting, cadmium impacts on ptarmigan, river restoration
and trout habitat. Over 200 citizens have benefited from these
educational and informational programs. In addition, our
outreach efforts through the local paper have reached an
audience of over 1500.
Major synoptic sampling efforts were conducted in 2005 and
2006 to assess water quality in the upper reaches of the
watershed that are most impacted from historic mining.
Henson Creek water quality data and mine waste data from
selected mine sites was used to write the Reclamation
Feasibility Report, Henson Creek Watershed. This report
outlines and ranks the most important mine sites for
reclamation and recommends Best Management Practices. To
date, three sites have been identified for restoration with
construction activities started in 2007.
The LFWS has also worked to develop Total Maximum Daily
Loads (TMDL) for Palmetto Gulch, a tributary to Henson
Creek, which is listed as water quality impaired on Colorado’s
303(d) List due to high levels of zinc and cadmium. The
Federal Clean Water Act requires the adoption of Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s) for water bodies that do not
meet adopted water quality standards. The purpose of the
TMDL Assessment is to identify reductions in cadmium and
zinc concentrations from mining sources that will enable the
segment to support aquatic life and to meet the adopted
water quality standards. Attainment of the adopted water
quality standards for cadmium and zinc will require reductions
in both mining and natural sources of these metals.
The LFWS is coordinating public input on the TMDL process
through review of the Palmetto TMDL document and through
public hearings.
The LFWS has been concentrating its efforts in watershed
education, assessment, restoration, and strategic watershed
planning. Since 2003, three grants totaling nearly $200,000
and over 3000 hours of volunteer time have been received
toward these ends.
We have conducted numerous public information and
planning meetings, with such topics as water quality, mine
permitting, cadmium impacts on ptarmigan, river restoration
and trout habitat. Over 200 citizens have benefited from these
educational and informational programs. In addition, our
outreach efforts through the local paper have reached an
audience of over 1500.
Major synoptic sampling efforts were conducted in 2005 and
2006 to assess water quality in the upper reaches of the
watershed that are most impacted from historic mining.
Henson Creek water quality data and mine waste data from
selected mine sites was used to write the Reclamation
Feasibility Report, Henson Creek Watershed. This report
outlines and ranks the most important mine sites for
reclamation and recommends Best Management Practices. To
date, three sites have been identified for restoration with
construction activities started in 2007.
The LFWS has also worked to develop Total Maximum Daily
Loads (TMDL) for Palmetto Gulch, a tributary to Henson
Creek, which is listed as water quality impaired on Colorado’s
303(d) List due to high levels of zinc and cadmium. The
Federal Clean Water Act requires the adoption of Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s) for water bodies that do not
meet adopted water quality standards. The purpose of the
TMDL Assessment is to identify reductions in cadmium and
zinc concentrations from mining sources that will enable the
segment to support aquatic life and to meet the adopted
water quality standards. Attainment of the adopted water
quality standards for cadmium and zinc will require reductions
in both mining and natural sources of these metals.
The LFWS is coordinating public input on the TMDL process
through review of the Palmetto TMDL document and through
public hearings.
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© Barbara Hite
© Janet Potter
| LFWS Watershed Stewardship Plan |