Colorado Porch

Topic

Water and land

Wells and water rights, septic and rural land, mineral rights, and what it really means to own ground in a place where water is its own kind of property.

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Local notes

More water and land notes

329 sourced notes in this topic

Water and land

A lot of Denver's water starts on the other side of the mountains

Much of Denver's tap water is collected high in the mountains and moved across the Continental Divide, which is why Front Range water is a statewide question.

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Water and land

An ancient supervolcano helped shape Mineral County's mountains

Much of the rock around Creede formed during enormous volcanic eruptions tens of millions of years ago, including the La Garita supervolcano's blast, and that origin still shapes today's peaks, cliffs, and rock shapes.

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Water and land

Boats on Chaffee County waters need a clean check first

Before launching on Colorado waters, motorboats and sailboats need an aquatic nuisance species stamp, and trailered or motorized boats must pass an inspection to keep invasive mussels out.

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Water and land

Bring your boat clean and dry to Lathrop State Park

Motorized boats must pass an aquatic nuisance species inspection before launching at Lathrop State Park, where an invasive water weed has already been found.

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Water and land

Continental Reservoir is a high lake for boating and trout, with rules at the ramp

Continental Reservoir near Creede has a boat ramp and stocked trout, but motorboats must run wakeless and carry a Colorado registration and aquatic nuisance species stamp, and the lake is usually frozen in winter.

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Water and land

Fossil Creek Wetlands is a birding place you mostly view from the edge

Fossil Creek Wetlands in south Fort Collins is creekside bird habitat watched from the Trilby Road pullout or a short paved trail, not entered.

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Water and land

On the Colorado River at Island Acres, the river itself is closed to boats

At the Island Acres section of James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, boating is allowed on the lakes but not on the river, because a roller dam downstream is dangerous.

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Water and land

Platoro Reservoir is the county's high mountain lake for fishing and boating

Platoro Reservoir is a high reservoir on the upper Conejos River with a boat ramp and trout fishing, and Colorado boats can face aquatic nuisance species inspection before launching.

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Water and land

Rifle Falls is a triple waterfall over a travertine dam

Rifle Falls State Park north of Rifle has a triple waterfall where East Rifle Creek flows over a travertine dam, with limestone caves to explore and a small campground; a parks pass is required.

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Water and land

Sanchez Reservoir is a warm-water fishing spot, open only for fishing

Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area south of San Luis offers warm-water fishing and a boat ramp, but public access is limited to fishing and needs a license or SWA pass.

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Water and land

The Chalk Cliffs below Mount Princeton are not made of chalk

The pale Chalk Cliffs on the flank of Mount Princeton are altered granite, tied to the same underground heat that feeds the area's hot springs along Chalk Creek.

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Water and land

To launch a boat on Trinidad Lake, plan for an inspection first

Trinidad Lake State Park allows boating, but motorboats need a pre-launch inspection for aquatic nuisance species, so showing up with a boat is not the same as being ready to put it in the water.

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Water and land

Trinidad Dam was built for more than recreation, and the lake level shows it

The dam that holds back Trinidad Lake is run by the Army Corps of Engineers as a multipurpose project for flood control, irrigation, and recreation, so the reservoir is managed to handle high water, not just to keep a full lake for boats.

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Water and land

Boating Lake San Cristobal means following Colorado's mussel rules

Lake San Cristobal near Lake City is one of Colorado's larger natural lakes, and boats launched there fall under the state's aquatic nuisance species inspection rules.

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Water and land

Irish Canyon: a short drive through deep time on the way to Browns Park

A narrow red, green, and gray canyon off Highway 318 packs layered rock and Fremont-era petroglyphs into one easy stop before Browns Park.

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Water and land

The whole La Garita country was shaped by one enormous eruption

Wheeler's pale spires, Penitente Canyon's walls, and much of western Saguache County's rock come from a huge ancient volcanic eruption.

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Water and land

Rafting the lower Dolores River depends on a short, flow-driven season

The whitewater run on the lower Dolores River below McPhee Dam only comes alive when enough water is released, so the boating season can be brief and unpredictable from year to year.

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Water and land

Boats at Ruedi Reservoir get inspected for invasive species

Ruedi Reservoir east of Basalt is open for boating, but all boats must pass an aquatic nuisance species inspection at the ramp before launching and again when they leave the water.

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Water and land

Denver's riverside greenway trails all knot together at Confluence Park

From the spot where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte, a paved greenway built over decades carries walkers and cyclists along the water, out of downtown and far upstream.

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Water and land

Fish San Juan County's high lakes and side creeks, and know the upper Animas

Many tributaries and high lakes around Silverton fish well; the main-stem upper Animas is shaped by old-mine metals, so plan your trout day around the side waters.

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Water and land

Harvey Gap is the quiet, small-boat lake near Silt

Harvey Gap State Park is a smaller, calmer reservoir near Silt where boating is limited to low-horsepower craft, with a swim beach, fishing, and a seasonal boating closure in winter.

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Water and land

Blue grama and buffalo grass are the backbone of Cheyenne County's prairie

Cheyenne County sits in Colorado's shortgrass prairie, where low, drought-hardy native grasses like blue grama and buffalo grass dominate the land.

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Water and land

Boating at Eleven Mile State Park means a boat inspection for invasive species

Eleven Mile State Park allows boating on its big reservoir, but trailered boats must pass an aquatic nuisance species inspection first.

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Water and land

Boating rules change from one foothills reservoir to the next

Carter Lake, Pinewood Reservoir, and Flatiron Reservoir sit close together west of Loveland, but each allows different kinds of boating, so the rules depend on which water you pick.

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