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.~ _n~t ~~. E. Soils . The soil associations through which the Fountain Valley Conduit passes are shown in Figures III-Sa and b which display the soil associations of Pueblo and El Paso Counties. The conduit route leaves Pueblo Reservoir on the valley floor, but travels through alluvial soils for only a short distance. As it progresses northward into and through the uplands to the Pueblo-El Paso County line, it traverses shallow to moderately deep, relatively steeply sloping soils forming on limestone and shale formations, rather broad areas of deeper, medium textured soils forming in locally reworked alluvium, and rather broad areas of relatively gently sloping heavy textured soils forming on shale or shale derived materials. From the Pueblo-El Paso county line northward, the conduit route traverses upland and high terrace areas which are relatively gently sloping with both heavy shale derived and medium textured alluvial soils. About 10 or 11 miles north of the county line, the conduit route intersects the Fountain Creek Valley, from which point it divides. One section extends northwest along the edge of the valley, following the upland valley break consisting of steeply sloping heavy textured shaley soils. The other ~ection crosses the moderately heavy alluvial soils of the valley, rising inco the heavy textured shale derived upland soils northeast of Fountain Creek. The conduit terminates after crossing about 2 miles of light textured sandy soils which are forming in arkosic sediments. .. The above description does not consider the finer de~ails of some relatively small soil or land type bodies the conduit passes through. These soils and land types may present either significant construction difficulties or environmental impacts. Some of these include very steep and highly eroded upland-valley breaks with little or no soil development as well as drainageways or vashes which are also quite steep and highly eroded. The areas of shale derived soils are generally highly erosive, particularly when plant cover has been removed due to such activities as overgrazing, construction, and operations. A large percentage of the conduit alinement shows minimal vegetative cover, and there is abundant evidence of both wind and water erosion such as headcutting of gullies. 111-16 .