Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Appendix B: wildlife/ Ecology <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The vegetation type in Dead Horse Canyon above hanging lake is a tufted <br />hairgrass-sedge complex (Deschampsia caespitosa-Carex spp.). Primary shrub <br />vegetation in the monitoring area consists of Red Osier Dogwood (Comus <br />stolonifera), Wild Rose (Rosa woodsii), and Alder (Alnus spp.). Herbaceous and <br />grarninoid species in the area include Needle and Thread, (Stipa comata), Marsh <br />Marigold (Caltha leptosepalal, and Common Bluebells (Mertensia spp.). An <br />important riparian obligate species that is found in the drainage is yellow <br />columbine (Aquilegia barneybii). This species is especially important as an <br />indicator of sensitive habitats. It appears that the creek is intermittent in <br />nature, due to the preponderance of riparian facultative species. Tree species <br />in the drainage are primarily Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Aspen <br />(Populus tremuloides) The side slopes of the canyon have high concentrations of <br />oakbrush, service berry, and chokecherry. The browse species listed above are <br />highly preferred by Mule Deer, Elk, and Bear. There are areas where the water <br />is underground but I would postulate the water table is near the surface due to <br />the presence of some riparian obligate species. <br /> <br />There are a number of important wildlife habitats that exist in the Dead Horse <br />drainage. Species such as cliff swallows, bats, and a variety of small mammals <br />would be especially attracted to these areas. The area below the large <br />waterfall is used by a colony of black swifts, and judging by the amount of <br />limestone in the canyon I would expect occupation by various species of bats. <br />There are a number of large trails that drop off the rim into the canyon. The <br />trails are are primarily used by elk and deer as escape routes when hunting <br />pressure in the upper Dead Horse country increases. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The channel is composed of primarily travertine deposits. It is a unique site <br />in that the limestone deposit forms small waterfalls that support carpet like <br />moss and algal communities. There are a number of areas that are remnants of <br />lacustrine systems. The small lakes are in various stages of eutrophy from <br />true lake (Hanging Lake) to silted lake bottoms with emergent vegetation such <br />as water sedge (Carex aquatilisl. The hike up the c~yon is a good <br />representation of the succession of the canyons systems that are derived from <br />the flattops plateau. Another interesting characteristic of the system is the <br />ephemeral nature of the stream. The canyon walls have seeps that could be used <br />as watering areas for a variety of animals that utilize those habitats. The <br />variation in overland and subsurface flows, could lead to seasonal variation in <br />use by wildlife species that use the area. <br /> <br />Summary by Mike Villa, Eagle Ranger District <br /> <br />From Kit Buell: Wildlife Biologist: <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />State Status (re: Colorado Natural Hert. 1996) for the Black Swift (CYNI) , <br />Hapeman's coolwort (SUHA/pu) (Colo.), and Shale Columbine (AQBA) are that they <br />are not listed with the State. Shale Columbine was not listed in the 1996 <br />version of Colo. Nat. Hert. booklet at all....also, we need to consider that <br />all of our observations were during the day. We do not know about potential <br />nocturnal (detectable) wildlife such as ringtail cat, spotted owl, spotted bat, <br />dwarf & pygmy shrews, Townsend's big-eared bat, Fringe-tailed myotis bat, and <br />flammulated owl.. .all Forest Service sensitive species. These species are <br />likely not highly dependent upon water, but use these area's to a significant <br />degree in relation to feeding on the macroinvertebrates associates. . . <br /> <br />18 <br />