9504

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9504
• Author: Cooper, D. J. and C. Severn.
• Title: Ecological Characteristics of Wetlands at the Wetland Clough, Moab, Utah.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

.The analysis presented in Figure 12 illustrates. that high ~
runoff years in the La Sal Mountains coincide, in general, with:,
high runoff years in the Colorado River. High Colorado River
-flows and high precipitation in the La Sal's occurred in 1957,.
and low flows and low precipitation occur in 1977. .However,
large differences also occur. For. example, the highest flow
years on the Colorado River, 1983 and 1984, were not the-years
with highest precipitation in the La-Says.
Eleven staff gauges established in study area-wetlands were
monitored regularly through the summer. The raw data for these
gauges are presented in Appendix 3. .Correlation .matrices were
developed between wetland staff gauges and TNC-7, our Colorado
River staff gauge, to determine whether surface water levels in
the wetland-had the same seasonal fluctuations as the River, and
were thus connected. Our analysis indicates no significant
.statistical relationships between any wetland staff gauge and
TNC-7. We conclude that mid to late summer wetland water sources
are independent of the Colorado River. These water sources
include Mill Creek,- irrigation water diverted from Mill Creek and
transported north of Moab to water fields,. and springs that erupt
.from the Wingate and .Paradox formatiUons on-the east side of the
Moab Valley. _.
Hydrographs of .study area surface-and ground .waters fall
-into three types based on seasonal variability and amplitude of
change. These water source types-are; 1) the ground water and ~~°"'"
irrigation water influenced area on the eastern side of the study
.area, 2) the Colorado River and the ground water system that it
controls which is mainly close to the river,- and 3) the remainder
of~the study area which is controlled by the springs and waters
`derived from Mill Creek.
Type 1 indicated by well.M4, 5-and 6 show (Figure 13} a slow
water table decline until late July or early August when the
water table. rises several feet. These-wells are apparently
influenced by both ground water from,-springs on the eastern side
of the valley as well as irrigation. Type 2 waters include-the
;Colorado River and-wells M9, 10 and 11 which have their seasonal
".high in early summer and show (Figure 14) a gradual lowering,
through-the season. Type 3 waters, .illustrated in Figure 15,.are
remarkably stable over the entire summer, showing only a slight
' decline in late .summer. .The three hydrographs are-also compared
on a single graph, Figure 16.
The-results of this hydrologic analysis allows us to
understand. the .principal-.seasonal water sources to wetlands. It
.also helps us to interpret water chemistry data, and understand
the potential of the study site for wetland restoration and
creation and fish recovery potential.
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