7800

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7800
• Author: Burdick, B. D.
• Title: Conceptual Management Plan for Habitat Enhancement in Flooded Bottomlands, Gravel Pit at 29-5/8 Road, Colorado River Near Grand Junction, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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SITE DESCRIPTION
' General
The site is located on the Colorado River near Grand Junction between
t Palisade and Grand Junction, Colorado ("15-Mile Reach") at river mile 174.4
(Section 20, Township 1S Range 1E, 6th P.M.; Figure 1; Appendix: Photo 3). The
site is located at the end of Mesa County Road 29-5/8 on the north side of the
Colorado River. The two gravel pits are within 100 yards of each other and are
' both located within the 100-year floodplain. The larger gravel pit (ungraded and
unconnected to the mainstem) is currently isolated from the river by a dike to
protect former gravel-pit mining activities. It has a surface area of
' approximately 7.4 acres, average depth of about 5.5 feet (maximum 15 feet), and
is "bathtub-shaped". The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Parks and Outdoor Recreation ([CDPOR], Contact Mr. Kurt Mill, [phone])
' recently purchased the land from Mr. C. W. Van Wagner. To the north of this
pond, the second smaller pond that has a total surface area of 5.1 acres is
privately owned by Mr. C. W. Van Wagner, 1063 21-1/2 Road, Fruita, Colorado,
81521, [phone]. This pond is connected to the mainstem river. The Grand
' Junction Drainage District has an easement to maintain two drainage-ditches, one
that runs east of the property and one between the two property owners. The two
ponds at this site are maintained by ground water infiltration from the river and
' from irrigation returns. Dominant vegetation around these two ponds consists of
Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and tamarisk.
' Criteria and Rationale for Site Selection
The following criteria and rationale were used in selection of this site:
' 1. Located in the historic floodplain, adjacent to the river, and
in close proximity to historic habitat for razorback sucker
' and Colorado squawfish,
2. Located within the recommended experimental stocking area for
adult razorback sucker (Burdick 1992),
1 3. Area is owned and controlled by the CDPOR, and
' 4. Site can be used for experimentation as a graded gravel-pit
that is connected to the mainstem river at high flows and
drains naturally following high flows.
t Land Management
' The Whitewater Building Materials Corporation completed mining gravel from
the larger pit in 1993. The area around the larger pond is currently being
reclaimed. During the winter of 1993/1994, the banks were sloped and reseeded
' with native grasses and cottonwood saplings were planted. The smaller pond was
mined for gravel in the late 1950's (Personal communication, Mr. Edward Gardner,
1994). Natural succession of hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus) and
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