WSP11214

• File Number: 8200.776
• Description: Uncompahgre River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 1/1/1983
• Author: West Slope Hydro Par
• Title: Before the United States of America Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - Application for License for Major Project - Uncompahgre Valley Hydroelectric Project Number 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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002001

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As farms were established along the river bottoms

in the

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latt;.. 1800's,

wetlands were cleared to allow grazing.

The.n,

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with the advent of irrigation,

new wetlands developed as a

result of canal and lateral seepage and runoff from fields;

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also, seeps resulted from deep percolation of irrigation
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water.

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At the present time, natural vegetation in the study area is

generally well interspersed and few large areas are domi-

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nated by a single type.

At lower elevations, greasewood is

found on poorly drained soils with little ground cover,

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while saltbush is common on dry sites.

Sagebrush prevails

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in

higher areas.

Some pinyon-juniper woodlands occur near

the

western and southern fringes of the area while some

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hills on the east side of the valley are barren. Croplands

often bordered by small strips of uncultivated vegetation

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are scattered throughout the study area and include alfalfa,

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improved grasses,

corn,

onions, beans, and malting barley.

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Orchards of apples, pears, and cherries are located
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primarily on the west side of the valley.

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Four

types of vegetation were considered to be wetlands for

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purposes of habitat evaluations.

Shrub-dominated wetlands,

consisting of willows,

tamarisk,

Russian olive, skunkbush,

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E-15

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