Brush Creek begins above the Town of Snowmass Village at the top of a divide at about 8840’. Current land use is determined by ski area development. North facing slopes have been deforested to make way for ski runs. Home and condominium development dominates at the base of the ski slopes where wet meadows historically occurred. Lower on the stream, golf course, ranching and associated home/condominium development dictate landscape characteristics. The entire stream has been altered by both historical and current land use practices. Current development has resulted in much greater degradation to stream function when compared to historic ranching uses. The stream channel has been moved, straightened, and devegetated. Numerous culverts connect the stream to road and parking lot runoff. Downcutting is severe in places due to both current development and historic agricultural activities. However, in a few places the stream and riparian habitat is rebounding, due largely to the presence of beaver and their dam-building activity.