The creek itself is locally well known for its population of
crayfish. Some local inhabitants catch and eat these crustaceans. The creek is also home to a large population of small fish (Including immature
trout and
sunfish,
crappie,
yellow perch and others). Large fish are largely absent, except when the Cherry Creek Dam is partially opened and floodwaters carry fish such as
rainbow trout,
brown trout, mature sunfish,
walleye, and even
northern pike downstream. The creek's ecosystem was damaged during a drought in the first few years of the 21st century. Plants along the banks, damaged by the drought, dropped organic debris into the water, increasing
biochemical oxygen demand substantially. Decreased flow also limited the ecosystem's capacity to supply needed oxygen. Decreased flow also prevented the washing away of pollutants such as
NPK fertilizers, insecticides and organic solvents. Water temperatures also rose during this period, compounding the problem. As of 2005, however, the creek is substantially healthier. The area around the creek is also known for its snake population, which includes
garter snakes,
western hognose snakes,
bullsnakes and occasionally
rattlesnakes. Amphibians native to Colorado can be found at the creek as well. These include, the plains
leopard frog,
woodhouse's frog, and the
striped chorus frog. The
bullfrog, a non-native species, is also located in the Cherry Creek. In recent years, bullfrogs have contributed to the decimation of native amphibian species populations at the creek. For some of its distance, notably in the region of Four Mile Historical Park, the creek is flanked on each side by approximately of woods and scrub. This corridor is deliberately left semi-wild, though there is a dirt bike track on the northern bank. This corridor is one of the few places within the Denver metro area where the creek's namesake plant, the
chokecherry, can still be seen in a largely wild state. Large trees such as
cottonwood are common, as are
willows. Edible plants such as wild
asparagus and
prickly pear are occasionally found.
Virginia creeper and imported plants such as the
Russian olive,
dandelion are present. Despite the limited area this corridor offers,
raccoons,
beaver,
foxes,
coyotes, and even
deer are not uncommon sights along the creek. The beaver typically have lodges upstream (east) of Denver, but swim downstream to forage.
Petrified wood is extremely common in the creek. It is washed down, sometimes in fairly large pieces, from 'petrified forests' upstream. Fossil mammal bones have also been found. Historical records kept at what is now
Four Mile Historical Park indicate that prior to the construction of the Cherry Creek Dam, the creek's water level rose and fell regularly. Since the dam's completion, however, this
flood cycle has been interrupted. Now, the flow is regulated almost exclusively by the dam's operators. The level of the creek is kept constant except when water needs to be vented from the
Cherry Creek Reservoir. When the dam's floodgates are opened for this venting, the creek's level may rise as much as two feet, sometimes in less than an hour. == See also ==