WSP11679

• File Number: 8101
• Description: Arkansas River Basin Description
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1944
• Author: USDA - SCS
• Title: Physical Land Conditions in the Western and Southwestern Baca County Soil Conservation Districts - Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

002368

springs to furnish shelter frr livestock.
Windbreaks arc desirablc for wildlifc as
thcy are quickly utilized by quail and
other birds. . Tree plantings to stabil-
izc sand dunes are proving to be effec-
tive if planted in very close pattern
too closc for permanent survival of all
thc trecs. Such plantings may be used
. for wildlife even after many of the trees
have died.

CLASS VI LAND

Class VI land includes medium-depth
sandy soils of group 5.5 on A slopes that
are slightly or moderately eroded; all
the shallow, moderately heavy soils of
group 6; the medium-depth, moderately
heavy soils of group 4 on B slopes or on
A slopes that are severely eroded; and
the deep sandy soils of group 5 on C or
steeper slopes. These lands are mod-
erately susceptible to erosion and re-
quire moderate restrictions in use. All
of them are capable of sustainin~ a
reasonable livestock carrying capaCity.
Class VI land now idle or under culti-
vation amounts to 85,000 acres in the
two districts. Revegetntion should be
the goal for such lands. The range

management practices needed to con-
serve this land and also class VII land
are discussed under "Range Land."

CLASS VII LAND

Class VII land, range, land highly
susceptible to erosion, requires more
strict application of .range-management
practices than does class VI land
(fig. 7). Overgrazing of such lands is
likely to cause more serious conse-
quences. Medium-depth sandy soils of
group 55 on B or steeper slopes or on A
slopes that are severely eroded, very
shallow moderately heavy soils of
group 66 except Potter loam, loose sands
(group 7), heavy clay soils (group 8),
and rough broken or stony lands
(group 9) make up class VII. Groups
55, 66, and 7 are highly susceptible to
wind erosion and must be maintained
with good cover for adequate protec-'
tion. Group 9 is comprised mainly of
thin soils on steep slopes, and water
erosion is active. The loss of surface
soil on the shallow soils of these rough
lands is of more significance than on
tbe deeper soils.

Col-698

Figure 7,-lVIuch formerly valuable range land of class VII has been rendered almost worth-
less by soil dl'ifting. Humrnocked range of this type is very susceptible to blowing~ and it
is difficult to reestablish the cover. The damage' will spread unless the range is revegetated.

'JJ7estern and Southeastern Baca County Soil Conservation Districts, Colorado

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