Headwaters to the Beaver Ponds above the Lost Man Diversion
Segment one begins at the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River and extends to where the stream gradient sharply increases and the valley width decreases below a series of beaver ponds. On the steep slopes above this valley the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River are borne from snowmelt discharging into stream channels. Here a variety of riparian wetlands are linked by melting snow that feeds high-elevation seeps, slope wetlands and finally extensive willow carr riparian wetlands that cover the bottom of the valley. Most of the stream and riparian habitat is of high quality. Highway 82 runs adjacent to the entire length of the stream from the headwaters to the confluence with the Colorado River. Impacts from the highway are variable depending on location in the valley and changes in geology, proximity to the stream and condition of intervening riparian vegetation.