The headwaters of Cattle Creek arise at 11,200 feet on the northeast slopes of Red Table Mountain. The stream traverses from its subalpine headwaters down through unstable shales to its confluence with the Roaring Fork River in the Upper Sonoran Life Zone at an elevation of 8025 feet. Cattle grazing has occurred throughout most of the Cattle Creek drainage at some point in time. Headwaters are managed by the USFS and are mostly in good condition. However, some headwater areas have grazing leases on them and some of these leases have been mismanaged by the lease holders resulting in riparian and stream degradation. Overgrazing and has allowed the invasion of noxious weeds that have spread into ungrazed areas.
Land is mostly privately owned further downstream. Here human development becomes more pervasive and habitat-altering. On privately owned land, grazing and conversion of bottom land to hay fields has resulted in the alteration or elimination of most riparian habitat. Rural development has continued the trend but has resulted in smaller sized lots that are still large enough for domestic livestock. Bluegrass lawns and non-native plant species characterize the riparian habitat in the rural areas of Cattle Creek. More recently, suburban development is starting to replace agriculture.