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<br />DESCR1PTIDN OF THE STUDY AREA
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<br />do~n5trea~ fro~ t~e to~n of Sowt~ Fork.
<br />
<br />T~e lo",er I i m it, 5
<br />
<br />lo"ated near Seven Mil e P I a~a bet~een tl-." to",n et Del Nor te ilnel
<br />
<br />B.Hin.Ch"r.."t"~i.H,i_c_s
<br />
<br />MOnteVist".
<br />
<br />Fi~ure 4 s~a"'s the studY rea,,~e. and map s~eet"
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<br />The Rio Gr and.. Ba" I n I n Co I orado va~ i '"s in.. I evat i On fro..
<br />over 13,00Q f..et ,n th.. San Juan ~ountains to about 7,700 teet at
<br />
<br />t~"t ole ti ne th.. flood p I a' ns.
<br />fOllo"s'
<br />Reac~ 1 - b.... i nn i n.. at .. po i nt b.. I 0", Seven Mi Ie P I "~a "nd
<br />
<br />The I en~thS o~ each r....ch are a5
<br />
<br />the lo",er ..nd 0+ the studv are".
<br />
<br />The dr";na..e area near Del
<br />
<br />Aspen, b~u.h, "r..ss I ands and ...."do,"".
<br />
<br />Th" la..er elevat;ans
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<br />e"tend i n~ up5trea~ apprO" I mate I y 3.1 ., I I e..
<br />Reach 2 - be"lnning at il point b..low th.. 0..1 Norte sewa"e
<br />treatment ponds and e"tendin9 upstream ilppro"I"ilt"ly
<br />4.1 m,les to a paint about 1.S 101 Ie" upstre.m 0+ Del
<br />Norte.
<br />Reach 3 - b"9lnnin9 at a point below stat.. bridge and
<br />e"t..nd i n9 upstream "pp~o" i mate I y 9.5 10 I I e. to Gerard
<br />Br idge near Alpine.
<br />Tota I I en~th 0+ study ;. 16.7 mil es.
<br />Gaps "eparatin9 the reache., total In" ilbout 10 ..lies, were
<br />not stud i ed be""use at a Ii,. i tl!d bud~et Ilnd t"e need +o~ flood
<br />pl"in Intor,"i1tian is net as criti"al at the5.. lo"ations.
<br />,~a t u.raL .a.~.cLJ>.."".U."..i....L .f.U>Jl.r:!J:La.i"D...,YilLY,lI 5
<br />Flood plains alon9 the Rio Grande River "ontain areas at
<br />I r r i <;ated pasture and hay I and i nte~ ""I!r "ed with ..redS 0+ nd tur.. I
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<br />No"te is about 1,200 ",,"uilre mi les.
<br />
<br />The Rio Grande is t..d by
<br />
<br />"ever a I st re.~" wh j ch d~a i n "oc t Ions at S..n Juan, Hi nsda I II,
<br />Minerai SIl'3uache and Rio Grande Counties, ..ee Fi<;ure 1.
<br />The wellther station at Del Narte sho",.. t.he aver"<;,, annual
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<br />precipitation to be 9.4 Inches.
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<br />Th.. hi9h..r mountains i1""u,"ulate
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<br />as mu"h as 40 i n"h..s 0 t "reC i I' i tat i on On t~.. averil'3e, mo"t 0+
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<br />whic~ OccurS as SnO"'.
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<br />M.. I tin" ot t~e snt>",pac~ prov I d... 1-.1 'ill,
<br />
<br />,.unat t dur i n9 t~e S"r, n9 and 01, m, n i sh i n'3 t I a~s as Summflr
<br />
<br />F>r09re."es.
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<br />In Del Nt>rte, the normai """n t....p..,...ture ran9""
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<br />from 21." cl"9~""" (+~hr"'nh.. it) ,n Janu..r v to 63. 5 d..~re"5 1 I'
<br />
<br />Juiy.
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<br />The '"ean annual te,""er..tur.. is 43.1 d""re"5.
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<br />Much at t~e u"per basin V"9.Hiltion 'S Conf ier OIith "alOe
<br />
<br />in" I ude pinon, Jun i "er, var i ous ~rush spec, es, 9raS5es and SOme
<br />i r_ i ~ated pastur.. and hay I and.
<br />
<br />vegetatio.,.
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<br />Th.. tlood plain v"getiltion consists of a v"riety at
<br />
<br />Study LI,"lts
<br />The study area ,n"lud"s thr..e reach.... of th.. RiO Grande on
<br />
<br />tarbs, 9~aSSeS' s"dges and ru"hes i nter.."..r sed '" i th "at tonwood..,
<br />",i I 10"," ..nd sib..ri..n el",. 'ihe "'...."d..rin9 "hannei provid.." an
<br />
<br />Rio Grande Count,...
<br />
<br />The ~pp..r study Ij..ot IS
<br />
<br />oc..t.." JUSt
<br />
<br />interestin'3 diversity in I.."dsc.."e and v."..tat'on
<br />
<br />T~ i ~
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<br />- S -
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<br />- 0 -
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