Carnero Creek (Colorado)
| Carnero Creek | |
|---|---|
Looking downstream towards Hellgate, a gap | |
Location of the creek's mouth in Colorado | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Saguache County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of South Carnero Creek and Middle Carnero Creek |
| • coordinates | 37°54′18″N 106°23′36.12″W / 37.90500°N 106.3933667°W[1] |
| Mouth | |
• coordinates | 37°51′17″N 106°12′9.1″W / 37.85472°N 106.202528°W[1] |
• elevation | 7,687 feet (2,343 meters)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | San Luis Closed Basin |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | San Luis Closed Basin |
| Landmarks | Hellgate, Carnero Creek Pictographs |
Carnero Creek is a stream in Saguache County, Colorado. Carnero is a name derived from Spanish meaning 'sheep'.[2]
The creek rises at the confluence of South Fork Carnero Creek and Middle Fork Carnero Creek. North Fork Carnero Creek joins Carnero Creek after this confluence.[1]
Maps show the creek ending in a field between the Rio Grande Canal and U.S. Route 285, its flow lost to irrigation ditch diversions, seepage, and evaporation.[3][1] This mouth of the creek is within the San Luis Closed Basin.
Fauna
The creek, a perennial stream, is home to a healthy population of native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The creek also provides important foraging habitat for peregrine falcons.[4]
Rock art
The Carnero Creek Pictographs take their name from the creek. The pictographs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[5] but their exact location along the creek is not publicly known, though one source indicates they are on the L-Cross Ranch, which lies along the creek near La Garita, Colorado.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Carnero Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. October 13, 1978. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ Bright, William (2004). Colorado place names (3rd ed.). Boulder: Johnson Books. p. 32.
- ^ "The National Map". The National Map. United States Geological Survey. n.d. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Smith, Erin (September 20, 1998). "Mysterious pictographs draw visitors to L Cross ranch". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ "Carnero Creek Pictographs". History Colorado. 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.