9349

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9349
• Author: Fischer, N. T., M. S. Toll, A. C. Cully and L. D. Potter.
• Title: Vegetation Along Green and Yampa Rivers and Response to Fluctuating Water Levels, Dinosaur National Monument.
• USFW Year: 1983.
• USFW - Doc Type: Albuquerque.
• Copyright Material: NO

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4
INTRODUCTION
Dinosaur National Monument contains three types of river systems
within its boundaries, offering a unique comparative basis for study
of the relationship between river conditions and the accompanying
riparian vegetation. The °~ is the last large tributary of
the Colorado River drainage sy em which is still free-flowing. Except
for scattered pockets of ex ics, such as tamarisk (Tamarix pentandra),
- tl ._
_~
its ~ ~ 1i~a ~aa+g~~~t3~ a,.~. ,. ,
~ ~ typic~~ v n+~a~~~LLpri~~~~~tirx~itfc3n~t Its
water levels fluctuate with the natural runoff from the Rocky Mountain
snowmelt in the spring, with maximal levels attained in May-June.
~...~ . ~ , ,..>,n~. ~. .- , .. , - ~ ,
eaa'1~' tt~fi€?r ~`loods ~ri "~ 'Can'yon profisc2 a natural scouring`*o~ r'~rer ~
~°r'~-~`s ,., 'and ' ~"~`o~id'~t~.in~ t . , ~ ;,.. ~n i~!~"!~`
,.. .~r~
u.,
~Wrs ~~~ :. «. 3~icAntlp tY~s 3 c~,afly 2~a-~:
~~,;,jin response to hydroelectric power needs of distant
cities. The current range of water level variation is far below pre-dam
natural flood levels, resulting in the exposure of a formerly flooded
and scourEd zone to plant Succession. Differences in frequency and
amplitude of water level fluctuations, and differences in chemical and
physical properties of the water released from the dam, may contribute to
some significant differences in the present vegetation along the Green River,
with respect to that of the Yampa. ;~"~~ipti~:~ r~i~~''
w..-
~-~.-~ .. , ~, x ~ ~ rc'~riti ~ e ~ _. , ,
tY' ~ ~t c ~ t~~ tti+es wig ~a~tid~~;~" Cts#'~~.'~~c~ns.~
We have set as the principal objective of this study of the Yampa