Wetland Resource Group Meeting July 13 1993

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Fort Morgan, June 18. Thirty -two participants visited a river bottomland just east of the South Platte River, where the morning was spent studying the interplay of hydrology, soils and vegetation in the definition of wetlands and non - wetlands areas. In the afternoon, the group visited the Centennial Hunting Club to observe wetlands created in depressions among dunes in an area formerly grazed by cattle. The afternoon was spent discussing the history of the South Platte and changes in river dynamics, vegetation and wildlife. The group proceeded to the farm of Gene Peterson, where issues especially important to farmers and wetlands managers in Morgan County were discussed. Breckenridge, June 21. The first f ield study was a wet meadow and willow wetland just upstream of the "Tarn" south of Breckenridge, where participants focused on the scientific definition of wetlands. The second site visited illustrated the effect of acid mine drainage on water quality at Illinois Gulch, where the importance of wetlands in cleansing water of pollutants was discussed. The noon hour and afternoon were spent discussing impacts of construction and sedimentation on wetlands. Note: A two -page evaluation form has been completed by all participants to date. The evaluations will be tabulated for the report to Colorado legislators, DNR and the EPA following the Gunnison workshop on July 28. Mitigation banking Steve Dougherty of ERO Resources Corporation continues to collect information relevant to production of the report on mitigation banking guidelines. The information will be presented as a first draft in August and finalized by Sept. 30, 1993. White River and lower Colorado Riparian Classification Further field sampling was conducted within the lower Colorado River basin to augment las year's sampling. An additional approximately 45 plots were taken along the Roan and Parachute Creek drainages. This additional sampling will allow for a more complete classification of the White River Basin and the Colorado River Basin below Glenwood Springs. Riparian ecologist Gwen Kittel held a riparian training workshop in early June to train both the Conservancy's Colorado Field Office team and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program riparian team. The workshop was also well attended by members of the Riparian Task Force and employees of City of Boulder Open Space. Speakers included Steve Kettler, ecologist with the Natural Heritage Program; Patrick Bourgeron, The Nature Conservancy's Western Region ecologist; and Karl Gephardt, hydrologist with the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho. kj071293.epa