An aquatic monitoring program was initiated in the summer 200 I at the Rocky Flats EnvironmentalTechnology Site (Rocky Flats) in Golden, Colorado, and was conducted for the Department of Energy(DOE) Rocky Flats Field Office. The purpose of this program is to establish a data base to characterizethe existing aquatic communities and habitat conditions in the stream environments of Walnut, Woman, and Rock Creeks in the Buffer Zone surrounding the Industrial Area at the Site. Baseline surveys were conducted to document the abundance and distribution of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate populations and physical habitat parameters at selected sampling locations. Monitoring results for the 2001-2002 period are presented in this report. These results and additional data collected in subsequent years will establish a data base that can be used to monitor the potential impacts of ongoing closure activities through 2006 to drainages on the Site and in downstream areas, as well as provide a baseline for comparison with post-closure years. After closure, the Site will be turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will be called the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.
