Effort continues to win Wild and Scenic designation for Deep Creek in Eagle County
More than a decade in, congressional approval is still needed
Courtesy photo
Deep Creek is one of Eagle County’s most remarkable places. Years-long efforts continue to preserve that western Eagle County landscape.
A 15-mile stretch of Deep Creek nearly a decade ago was found suitable for preservation under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. That act aims to preserve streams that are free-flowing and have “outstanding, remarkable values.” Part of the criteria also includes lack of dams or reservoirs along the stream.
Deep Creek would seem to meet those criteria, especially given that it has unique geological features in its canyon and unique plant life in some stretches.
Wild and Scenic designation is also less restrictive than wilderness designation.
Roy Smith, the local Bureau of Land Management’s program lead for the Deep Creek project, noted that the American River through Sacramento, California, has Wild and Scenic status.
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But like any federal status, there’s a long to-do list to accomplish, and designation takes an act of Congress. The Deep Creek designation also has a lot of interested parties. The creek is in two counties — Garfield and Eagle. The portion of the creek eligible for designation is all on federal land, but authority for that land is split between the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The creek also sits in two congressional districts, Colorado’s 2nd and 3rd. The 3rd will be represented in January by Grand Junction Republican Jeff Hurd. Boulder Democrat Joe Neguse represents the 2nd.
Smith is the Bureau’s liaison to a large stakeholder group named Deep Creek Wild and Scenic Stakeholder Group, which began meeting in 2017.
The Colorado River District is part of that group, in part because the district hopes to augment the creek’s flow in the spring runoff season.
A need for more water
The Colorado Water Conservation Board is requesting a junior water right during the spring runoff season.
Eagle County Open Space and Natural Resources Director Marcia Gilles said that the request, which needs to be adjudicated by Colorado’s water courts, would be useful for fish spawning and movement in the spring.
The Water Conservation Board is also asking for another junior water right on Derby Creek in northwest Eagle County for similar purposes.
Both those creeks are tributaries of the Colorado River.
Gilles noted that the Deep Creek stakeholder group — led by American Rivers representative Fay Hartman — has held “a lot” of community meetings, performed a lot of analysis, hosted workshops and done a lot of analysis work.
Gilles added that once the in-stream water rights are secured, which could occur in 2025, a proposal could be ready to take to Congress next year.
Smith noted just taking a proposal to Congress is no guarantee, though.
“There’s no guarantee when, if ever, Congress takes it up,” Smith said.
Whether or not the designation passes muster with Congress, Smith said the federal management agencies are already managing Deep Creek as though it has been designated as wild and scenic.
At the bottom of the canyon
While many of us see Deep Creek from the overlook along Coffee Pot Road on the way to Deep Lake, the headwaters of the creek, there are trails to the canyon’s bottom.
Smith has hiked in and noted Deep Creek has “completely natural” hydrology, with a “globally rare ecosystem.” In addition, there are caves among the canyon walls and other features for those willing to put in the work.
Beyond the canyon, the water in those creeks is also important to the health of the Colorado River.
“Anything going into the Colorado is important to the aquatic health of (that river), so it’s important to keep water in those streams,” Gilles said.
