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<br />OGJ182 <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />Creek. Fountain Creek drains an area of 930 square miles from the north at <br />Colorado Springs and enters the Arkansas River near Pueblo. <br /> <br />The nature of the surrounding soil Is quIte different than the upper <br />reaches. The river is now passing over sedimentary rocks. These are mainly <br />shales and limestones of the Cretaceous Period. They are represented by the <br />Pierre, Niobrara and'B~~on Formations. There are also local deposits of <br />Quaternary alluvium next to the present channel. Losses to the ground water <br />reservoir would be much larger In this type of soil and terrain than In the <br />upper reaches. <br /> <br />Arable land Is much more extensive along thIs reach as Is evidenced by <br />the number of large diversion canals -- the Hlnnequa. Bessemer, Excelsior, <br />and the Colorado Canal. About 100,000 acres are irrigated In this reach. <br />Canon City is noted for its fruit crops. Other crops from thIs reach are <br />Wpeat, sorghums, sugar beets, corn, hay and alfalfa. <br /> <br />The natural vegetation Is again of two types. Phreatophytes are mo~e <br />widespread since the water table Is relatively close to the ground surface <br />for some distance on both sides of the river. It is not uncommon to see <br />large groves of cottonwoods, willows and saltcedar. F~rther away from the <br />river, the semI-arid types predominate. This includei'short grasses, <br />thistles and cacti. Few trees are seen very far away from the river. <br /> <br />The next few pages.of photographs Illustrate the character of the <br />Arkansas River and surrounding area, <br />