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<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />...
<br />
<br />. t~ the west und the usce.rpment t~ the east. The elevation flt the mouth
<br />
<br />of the South Platte River is about 2,800 feet above mefln sea level.
<br />
<br />About 83 percent of the bn.sin lies below olevation 8,000.
<br />
<br />
<br />5. Ground cover. The types and extent of Ground cover in the bt.sin
<br />
<br />ure largely dependent on topagraphy. The higher maunt"in po,.,ks and rangos
<br />
<br />are generally bald above timberline (which varius with the exposure Dnd
<br />
<br />averages 11 ,000 feet). Bo low til1'llfJr lLlo tfw TIountt\in area is covered "i th
<br />
<br />evergreen forest,] and uspen groves which extend short distunces onto the
<br />
<br />High Plains seetian whure they diminisr. in size 8,nd densi ty. Although
<br />
<br />lumbering operations, forest fires, and land slides have reduced them SOlilU-
<br />
<br />what, there arC? at preser..t about 3.500 square Diles (15~~ of the be.sin D.r(~l::')
<br />
<br />of forests. .i~.t)1:)roxinn.~tly 6,250 squClrc mi10s (25;10 of th~ bc.sj.rl ul'ca),
<br />
<br />chiafly in the plains nrea, are undor cultivn.tion. Tho rE;j~c..indor 8f tho
<br />
<br />basin !lre" is coverod with n"tive grc.ssos and occasiorw.l clunps af dociduous
<br />
<br />trees. Cott0nwoods L.nd 1NiJ.low brush are founcJ. u.long the str0E..Ins. The
<br />
<br />uncu1ti vated land is widely used for brazinG purposo.s.
<br />
<br />6. Strenm characteristics. The sbpa of thi> South PlattoRi ver
<br />
<br />thraugh the plllins recion c.v0ro.!(CS about oight foet per r1ilo und rec,ches
<br />
<br />Q. mc.ximur.l of u.bout 15 feGt p..:.;r mi In just dOwIlstreD.m frotl DGilVtJr. The
<br />
<br />slope in the mounto.in regions !lven.gos 68 foot per mi Ie through Plc.tte
<br />
<br />Canyon cmd varies from a minimum of' "bout 20 r'let por mila in :,ollth P"rk
<br />
<br />to ovor 1,000 feet per mi Ie near tho headwaters. The tribut"rie8 which
<br />
<br />./""
<br />
<br />enter from the west have precipitous slopes in the mountai,u "roas, similur
<br />
<br />to those of the' main Stocl, whi Ie those which drllin the plccins Ilro"8 ht\vc
<br />
<br />slopes varying from 70 feet per mile Eo"r their saurces to 'in "vcrage of
<br />
<br />e.b:Jut 14 feet per mi Ie neur ti:.u.I.;.' . .:mtl".3. 7ho slQPt',s, dr'_'.in~.i,go L~reu.S J
<br />
<br />Ul1U olevations of tho Muin stern 3.nd of tho tributaries fU'() prusoutod in
<br />
<br />Appendix II. All of mo tributarios which drain tho mountainous arolts
<br />
<br />are heavy contributars to tho rogulllr flow in tho main stem, V/hilo thosc
<br />
<br />which rise i'l the plains area are intormitt~nt in flow, but of ton contribute
<br />
<br />1-3
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