FLOOD08209 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

X-4 2. Closed Cottonwood Community 7. Ca tta i1 Ma rsh Commun i ty Similar to the open-mixed cottonwood community, except that it is totally dominated by cottonwood species in pure stands. The understory is typically less disturbed in older cottonwood stands because the density of these communities prohibit cattle grazing and disturbance by man. An excellent habitat for high, protected nesting sites and perches for for birds. Cottonwoods are also an important food source for beaver. The cattail marsh community is exceptionally rich in wildlife including birds, reptiles, crustaceans, amphibians and insects. Algae and other aquatic vegetation along with insects are an important food source for some types of birds. Location: Reach 1, 3 and 8. 8. Sandbar Community Location: Reach 1. 2. 7 and 8. Most sandbars are unstable and in various stages of development. They can disappear and reappear annually. However, once a sandbar is vegetated they usually become more stable and can eventually change the course of the river channel. Sandbars can be isoloated and are often densely vegetated with Narrowleaf Willows, providing refuge for many wildlife species. 3. Narrowleaf Willow Community Usually found in dense colonies along river banks in moist, sandy soil. They provide a high quality food source for birds and mammals. Narrowleaf Willow communities are also extensively used for protective cover during the winter by migratory water fowl. Location: Reach 1 through 8. Location: Reach 1 through 8. 4. Strip Cottonwood Community 9. Cactus Strip cottonwood communities generally occur in elongated belts on the river banks. This is caused by the removal and thinning of trees for agricultural and industrial land uses. These communities provide an important buffer zone between river wildlife species and industry, highways and housing developments. Prickly pear cacti are very inconspicuous along the South Platte River and as such their importance is often overlooked. Native grasses growing within cactus patches are protected against grazing by hoofed animals, thus providing redistribution centers. The fruits and fleshy stems provide food for rodents and reptiles. Location: Reach 1, 3 and 8. Location: Reach 1 through 8. 5. Strip Elm Community 10. Introduced Shortgrass Location: Reach 3, 4, 5 and &. Native grasses nave been reintroduced by man including blue gramma, buffalograss and side oats gramma. This plant community is part of a project to provide water saving, sod forming grasses in Habitat and Overland Parks. Strip elm communities are similar to strip cottonwood communities but are dominated by American, Chinese and Siberian Elms. Elms lack the wildlife value that cottonwood trees offer. 6. Disturbed Open Park Community The disturbed open park community is a treeless area within the riparian zone often created by cattle over-grazing and abandoned crop fields. The open area is dominated by grasses, thistle, kochia and weedy forbs. Seed from this vegetation type provides the plentiful source of food for birds and rodents. Probably all of the open grassland along the South Platte River consists of a disturbed open park community. Location: Reach 4. Location: Reach 1 through 8.