Eagle River Coalition seeks ‘Outstanding Waters’ designation for Brush Creek, Big Alkalai Creek

The Eagle River Coalition is working on a new protective designation for Brush Creek and Big Alkalai Creek. But what might that mean for the town of Eagle’s water supply?

According to a state handout, the “Outstanding Waters” designation is granted to portions of streams, rivers or other bodies of water with “high water quality and exceptional recreational or ecological significance” worthy of state protection.

The designations are granted every three years by the Water Quality Control Commission of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The designation takes several years to award and requires a lot of water sampling and documentation.

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The application for Brush Creek cites its habitat for fish species including cutthroat, brook, brown and rainbow trout, as well as plants including riparian forest and willow. The creek supports wildlife including lynx, elk, mule deer, Townsend’s big-eared bat, black bear and boreal owls and toads. Some of those species are threatened and endangered.

Big Alkalai Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River north of Interstate 70, in the Castle Peak area, is home to trout species, as well as longnose sucker and plants including thin-leaf alder and red-osier-dogwood.

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Wildlife species include golden eagles, greater sage grouse, elk and mule deer. The creek is also part of potential conservation areas including Castle Peak and the Radium to Red Dirt Creek portions of the Colorado River.

The Eagle River Coalition has asked the Eagle County Board of Commissioners for a letter of support for the designation.

There’s a June 3 deadline for that letter, but there are questions to answer first.

While Big Alkalai Creek hasn’t sparked any controversy, Brush Creek runs through Sylvan Lake State Park and is the town of Eagle’s primary water source. Both the state and the town have raised questions about granting further protections to the creek.

Commissioner Matt Scherr said it would be hard to support the designation if the town of Eagle continues to oppose the move.

Stephan Wilson, the utility manager for the town of Eagle, noted that much of the creek is already designated as outstanding waters, or is reviewable as such. Given that, there’s little to no threat of degradation to the stream.

Wilson noted that town officials are “hoping to reach an understanding” with the Eagle River Coalition and state so opposition to the designation isn’t necessary.

“We’re probably the most vested in maintaining the quality of the creek,” Wilson said.

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But, he added, town officials want to ensure that the town’s existing water rights aren’t damaged in any way, particularly given the scarcity and cost of obtaining those rights.

James Dilzell, the executive director of the Eagle River Coalition, noted the solution to the Brush Creek designation is that “everybody” needs a little more time.”

But, he added, people are “really excited about this round of (Outstanding Waters) designation … We’re hopeful the number of streams will increase in this round.”