Near Lake George in Park County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Enough Water for Everyone?
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
1. Enough Water for Everyone? Marker
Water is a precious commodity here and throughout the West.Forests, fisheries, wetlands, waterfowl populations, and recreation all rely on healthy watersheds. In addition, the Forest Service manages watersheds in this area that provide large portions of Colorado's growing Front Range with clean and plentiful water.
In this semiarid climate, the amount of water available to meet these demands depends, to a great extent, on mountain snowfall. The South Platte River begins as snowmelt in the high mountains along the Continental Divide in Park County.
Early South Park ranchers quickly realized the importance of the stream water that ran through their land — irrigation is essential here. The system of water rights established during those early years still affects the ways we use this resource.
The connection between forest and rivers is like that between father and son. No forests, no rivers.
— Gifford Pinchot, Forest Service Chief, 1905-10
The three forks of the South Platte River feed reservoirs that store water for municipal, residential, agricultural, and
this page online
Captions:
Top left: World-class trout fishing depends upon the same water that supplies Front Range cities.
Right: If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. — Lorea Eiseley
Erected by National Forest Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 39° 2.27′ N, 105° 31.543′ W. Marker is near Lake George, Colorado, in Park County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 24. Marker is located in the Wilkerson Pass rest area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake George CO 80827, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Turning Gold Fields into Fields of Green (here, next to this marker); Digging In (here, next to this marker); Fire Nature's Own Cleanser (here, next to this marker); Bayou Salado "Salt Marsh" (a few steps from this marker); Human Lives & Landscapes Inextricably Intertwined (a few steps from this marker); Footpaths to Highways (a few steps from this marker);
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
2. Enough Water for Everyone? Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
