WSP01414

• File Number: 8449.918
• Description: South Platte Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 8/1/1982
• Author: CWCB
• Title: South Platte River Basin Assessment Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

are identified in general documents and maps that are available from the
Colorado Division of Wildlife (1981).

The diverse topography and vegetation types within the South Platte River

basin support a variety of fish and wildlife. Vegetation throughout the

basin has a pronounced effect on the quantity and quality of native water

available for fish and wildlife populations. This biological assessment

emphasizes important terrestrial and aquatic species of the basin and

briefly highlights those species that are considered rare, threatened,

endangered or otherwise unique (Colorado Division of wildlife, 1978).

Vegetation

OVer one-half of the total number of plant species identified in Colorado

occur in the Front Range and adjacent prairies comprising the South Platte

River basin (Weber, 1972). These species occupy the available habitat from

the extensive eastern Colorado plains to the alpine tundra of the Front

Range mountains. Presently, the native vegetation of the South Platte

River basin is being subjected to major natural changes, including fire and

flooding, and man-related changes including urbanization, agriculture,

logging, livestock grazing, and energy development. Many acres of the

native flora have been altered or eliminated due primarily to heavy grazing

and irrigation. Introduced weeds are common in the basin; these tend to be

natives of southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, primarily because of the

similarities in climate (Weber, 1972).

Based upon information compiled by the U.S. I\.rmy Corps of Engineers (1977),

five broad ecological life zones have been used to discuss ecological

conditions of the basin. These five life zones include the Alpine zone,

the Sub-Alpine zone, the Montane zone, the Foothills zone, and the upper

Sonoran ZOne (Figure 5). The Alpine zone occurs above 11,500 feet in

elevation and characteristically is above the upper limits of tree

growth. The Sub-Alpine zone, varying in elevation from 10,000 to

-10-

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