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Carnero Creek (Colorado)

Coordinates: 37°51′17″N 106°12′9.1″W / 37.85472°N 106.202528°W / 37.85472; -106.202528
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carnero Creek
Looking downstream towards Hellgate, a gap
Carnero Creek (Colorado) is located in Colorado
Carnero Creek (Colorado)
Location of the creek's mouth in Colorado
Location
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountySaguache County
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of South Carnero Creek and Middle Carnero Creek
 • coordinates37°54′18″N 106°23′36.12″W / 37.90500°N 106.3933667°W / 37.90500; -106.3933667[1]
Mouth 
 • coordinates
37°51′17″N 106°12′9.1″W / 37.85472°N 106.202528°W / 37.85472; -106.202528[1]
 • elevation
7,687 feet (2,343 meters)[1]
Discharge 
 • locationSan Luis Closed Basin
Basin features
ProgressionSan Luis Closed Basin
LandmarksHellgate, 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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Bright, William (2004). Colorado place names (3rd ed.). Boulder: Johnson Books. p. 32.
  3. ^ "The National Map". The National Map. United States Geological Survey. n.d. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Carnero Creek Pictographs". History Colorado. 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.