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• of snowmelt or storm runoff (See section 4.2 for a further <br />discussion of hydrologic factors). <br />One of the most important criteria in the origination of a <br />peatland, especially in the semi -arid west, is the presence of a <br />geologic formation of one type or another that effectively <br />restricts the flow of water, and results in a water table that is <br />near or at the surface for most of the growing season. Usually <br />this takes the form of a catchment, or basin, such as a natural <br />bench or valley swale, but may also be caused by the presence of <br />an impermeable soil layer. Existing peat deposits have this same <br />effect of retarding ground water flow. A catchment or basin may <br />be formed from a number of processes, which include the <br />alteration of drainage patterns by glacial, alluvial, tectonic, <br />or volcanic processes, or the activities of beaver and humans <br />(Windell et al. 1986). Of those listed, areas of glaciation are <br />probably the most naturally conducive to the formation of <br />peatlands. Kettle ponds and the hummocky terrain of deposition <br />fields and moraines provide both numerous depressions and <br />relatively slow- draining soils. <br />The Colorado counties in which peat resources are likely to <br />be located are the set of counties either wholly or partially <br />situated in the mountainous region of the state. The Major Land <br />Resource Area (MLRA) classification system developed by the SCS <br />(1981), is used in this report for the purpose of defining the <br />peat producing area of the state and estimating peatland area <br />(See section 2.2). The area within MLRA's 48a, 48b, and 51 of <br />• 11 <br />