Homestake Creek Wetlands

Front Range cities threaten vital wetlands

The wetlands along Homestake and Whitney creeks are of critical importance to the well-being of Colorado ecosystems and sustainable water supplies. But the cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs want to build yet another dam on Homestake Creek. The proposed reservoir would submerge these wetlands and send even more Western Slope water to the Front Range. The resulting reservoir would also encroach on the Holy Cross Wilderness Area.

Colorado has already lost 50 percent of its wetlands, which provide critical wildlife habitat and help limit the size and intensity of forest fires. More importantly, wetlands help counter the effects of climate change.

Arguably the most important feature of wetlands is their ability to replenish underground water supplies. Water stored underground in aquifers is not lost to evaporation, and it slowly returns to streams and rivers, supplying water for Colorado’s farmers, ranchers and communities while offsetting the lack of precipitation in drought years. Without aquifer recharge, vital water resources would eventually dry up.

Ironically, this project, intended to provide water security for the Front Range, would actually harm Colorado’s water resources in the long run. It would also destroy one of the state’s most valuable wetlands along with important wildlife habitat for elk, moose, deer, trout and a variety of bird species as well as rare native plants.