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<br />Deposits containing more than 250 identifiable minerals have been located
<br />' in the South Platte River basin. Metals that occur in the basin include
<br />arsenic, cadmium, copper, gold, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel,
<br />silver, tungsten, uranium, and zinc. Non - metallic minerals include barite,
<br />limestone, pegmatite, pumices, silica sands, and volcanic glass
<br />(Engineering Consultants, Inc. and Toups Corporation, 1974).
<br />Natural gas, petroleum, and coal represent important energy resources in
<br />' the South Platte River basin. Presently, oil and gas production occurs in
<br />the basin, primarily between Denver and Julesburg (Engineering Consultants,
<br />Inc. and Toups Corporation, 1974). Although coal production in the basin
<br />This biological assessment provides a broad, regional overview of
<br />ecological conditions in the South Platte River basin. Eighteen major
<br />vegetation types located within 5 broad ecologic life zones have been
<br />delineated in the basin (Dr. Walter S. Odening, personal communication,
<br />Woodward -Clyde Consultants, April 1981). Characteristic assemblages of
<br />birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates are
<br />associated with the various habitats present in the basin. These species
<br />had ceased until recently, 2 major coal regions are located in the South
<br />Platte River basin (Kirkham and. Ladwig, 1979). The southern part of the
<br />Cheyenne Basin, covering 1800 square miles, extends into Larimer and Weld
<br />Counties, Colorado, in the northern part of the South Platte River basin.
<br />The Denver Basin (extending over an area of approximately 5700 square
<br />miles) extends eastward from the Front Range to near Limon and northward
<br />'
<br />from northern El Paso County to near Greeley. Over 130 million tons of
<br />coal were produced from these coal basins from 1883 through 1978 (Kirkham
<br />and Ladwig, 1979). A third small coal basin, called the South Park Field,
<br />is located in Park County, outside of the study area (Figure 1).
<br />Fish and Wildlife
<br />Introduction
<br />This biological assessment provides a broad, regional overview of
<br />ecological conditions in the South Platte River basin. Eighteen major
<br />vegetation types located within 5 broad ecologic life zones have been
<br />delineated in the basin (Dr. Walter S. Odening, personal communication,
<br />Woodward -Clyde Consultants, April 1981). Characteristic assemblages of
<br />birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates are
<br />associated with the various habitats present in the basin. These species
<br />
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