Hermosa Creek is a tributary of the Animas River in San Juan and La Plata counties in Colorado. The creek rises near Hermosa Peak in San Juan County, Colorado and then flows generally south to La Plata County and to its confluence with the Animas River in Hermosa.
| Hermosa Creek | |
|---|---|
 The creek in Hermosa, Colorado | |
  Map showing the location of the river mouth in Colorado | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Counties | San Juan and La Plata |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | San Juan National Forest |
| • coordinates | 37°42′52.99″N 107°53′7.24″W / 37.7147194°N 107.8853444°W [1] |
| Mouth | |
• location | Hermosa, Colorado |
• coordinates | 37°24′4″N 107°49′49.24″W / 37.40111°N 107.8303444°W [1] |
• elevation | 6,585 feet (2,007 meters) [1] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Animas – San Juan – Colorado |
| River system | Colorado River |
Protected areas
editMost of the creek lies in the San Juan National Forest. In 2014, Congress passed and the president signed the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act. The legislation created the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area and the adjacent Hermosa Creek Wilderness.[2] Much of the creek and its watershed lies within these two federally-protected areas.
Effect of the 416 Fire
editIn 2018, the 416 Fire burned thousands of acres of the Hermosa Creek watershed. Long known for its pristine and clear waters, the creek has been severely affected by the erosion occurring as a result of the fire.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Hermosa Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^ "Hermosa Wilderness". San Juan National Forest. United States Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^ Romeo, Jonathan (2019-04-24). "Once a source of fresh water, Hermosa Creek now threatens Animas River". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2020-05-04.