The Eagle River drains approximately 970 square miles (sq mi) west
of the Continental Divide in central Colorado before flowing into the
Colorado River. The Eagle River watershed (ERW) is located primarily
within Eagle County and includes the towns of Vail, Minturn, Avon,
Edwards, Eagle, and Gypsum. The eastern boundary of the ERW is drained
by Gore Creek, located at Vail Pass. Gore Creek flows along I-70
through the town of Vail before its confluence with the main stem
Eagle River near the town of Minturn. The Eagle River continues to
flow along I-70 to its western boundary near Dotsero.
Increased tourism and development in Eagle County is in part due
to the high mountain environment and accessible location within close
proximity to the I-70 corridor. As a result, Eagle County has become
known as a four-season resort destination. Ski resorts such as Vail
and Beaver Creek have brought increased tourism and development to the area.
From the early mining days along the Eagle River to the current
tourism based economy, the ERW has undergone a sequence of land use
changes that has influenced the hydrology, habitat, and water quality
of the area. With continued remediation of mine affected areas,
expansion of development and tourism, and continued effects related to
transportation infrastructure, there are continued and varied demands
on water resources within the watershed. Local entities in the ERW who
rely on and manage these resources are interested in the assessment of
water quantity and water quality to anticipate future management
actions to aid in the preservation of the ERW. Water-quality data for
the ERW have been gathered together so that interested citizens can
evaluate historical changes and current quality of stream water and
groundwater within the watershed.
