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maintain the current wet meadows and moist soil conditions of the riparian zone, as the methods for water <br />delivery change within the Valley. And third, the results of the surveys suggest that the impact of native <br />ungulate species that are now feeding on the young woody vegetation in the riparian zone is significant, <br />particularly near the town of Mancos. This problem, which exists in many other communities in the <br />United States, appears to be increasing, as the numbers of natural predators decline near rural <br />communities. Because browsing on the growing tips of shrubs and small trees will eventual kill the <br />plants, it is likely that unless this issue is addressed, the presence of large numbers of mule deer <br />(Odocoileus hemionus), and potentially elk (Cervus canadensis), will prevent the recovery of the woody <br />vegetation in the riparian zone. This may occur even as domestic livestock are progressively excluded <br />from the same riparian areas. <br />5 <br />