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<br />--' <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Appendix C: Notes from Forest Ecologist <br /> <br />On June 12, 1996, I hiked the lower 2 miles of Dead Horse Creek including the <br />lower 1 mile of East Dead Horse Creek. The portions of both East and West Dead <br />Horse above Hanging Lake are being considered for possible inclusion into the <br />Forest Service Research Natural Area program. This was an initial look at the <br />area for that purpose. Several significant ecological components were noted <br />during this one day visit. Sullivantia hapemanii (Region 2 sensitive) was <br />located in several locations along the hanging gardens and the upper waterfall <br />on East Dead Horse Creek. It is believed that black swifts (also Sensitivej <br />nest behind the upper waterfall, however, nODe were seen on this trip. They <br />normally do not initiate nesting until mid-July so additional visits will be <br />necessary to establish their presence. I have never seen red-osier dogwood <br />thickets as dense as was found along the stream course. In many places it was <br />nearly impenetrable. Some additional plant species of interest that were <br />noticed include: Aquilegia barnebyi which is generally found only in wet <br />limestone areas, Care x aquatilis, coeloglossum (one of the bog orchids) I and a <br />variety of species associated with the hanging gardens located in several <br />locations throughout the cascade portion of the upper creek. None of these <br />species are known to be rare, but all are considered limited in distribution <br />due to their dependence upon limestone and/or riparian conditions. Overall, I <br />consider this area to be one of the most unique areas that I have seen on this <br />forest due to the combination of land type, vegetation and water dependent <br />ecosystems. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Keith Giezentanner, Forest Ecologist and RNA Coordinator. <br /> <br />Additional Comments: <br /> <br />The major ecological values of the Dead Horse Drainage which are considered to <br />be unusual are found above the confluence of East and West Dead Horse Creeks. <br />Those values have been discussed previously and are included with the summary <br />in the Ecological Evaluation for Research Natural Area assessment. <br /> <br />The main stem of Dead Horse Creek below the confluence supports a thriving <br />riparian community which is similar to many south-facing steep-gradient streams <br />in this portion of Colorado. At least one small population of Sullvantia is <br />located in the boulder fields on the lower slopes adjacent to the trail <br />accessing Hanging Lake approximately 1/4 mile below the confluence. the black <br />swifts which nest behind the waterfall at Hanging Lake undoubtedly forage over <br />this portion of the canyon, but this should not be considered significant. A <br />variety of small mammals and birds typical of Colorado riparian areas are also <br />found in this portion of the canyon, but no rare, unusual or TES species other <br />than the one small population of Sullvantia have been documented. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />~9 <br />