WSP02759

• File Number: 8040.960
• Description: Section D General Studies - Dams
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/2004
• Author: Denver Water
• Title: Williams Fork Hydroelectric Project - FERC Number 2204 - Wildlife Habitat Survey Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

I

OJ213J

I

3.0 RESULTS A!IOD DISCUSSIO!lO

I

3.1 Wildlife Hahitat Characlcrinlion

I

The \\'illiams Fork Project is located in \liddh: Park. one of several large mountain
valleys in Colorado that an: charactcri7l'd by extensive meadows and mountain
grasslands and large stands of sagebrush shrubland. Soil conditions, low precipitation.
and cold temperatures make this intermountain basin generally unsuitabk for tree growth.
\.kadows and mountain grasslands occur in sltuatitlns that arc too dry for spruce and tir
and 100 cold for p\\nderosa pine (.\-turd and Emcrid.: 1(92). Sagebrush shrublands
generally occupy sites that arc somewhat less dry than the grasslands. excluding trees by
competition (.\1utcl and Emerick 1992). The tC\\ trees that arc present occur on higher
ground or rocky outcrops where coarser soils favor their establishment. The grassland
communities arc dominated by grasses and also support a large number of l{lfb species
and scattered shrubs. Sagebrush shrublands in \-1iddh: Park arc dominated by mountain
big sagebrush (Seriphydium [.-lrtemi,~ial \'Ilseyanum), often in association with a numbcr
of other shrubs including rabbit brush, antelope biltcrbrush. and snowber~'. and a variety
of grasses and forbs Middle Park also contains riparian ecosystems dominated by shrub
\\'illows.

I

I

I

I

I

The area In and around the \\'i!liams Fork Project is dominated by upland sagebrush
shrub land habitat. This ClHlllnon habitat t)'PC covers most nf thc land surrounding thc
reser..oir from the FERe projcct boundary to thc reservoir's cdgc. .\1ountain big
sagcbrush avcraging appnnirnatcJy 3 fect high and upland grasscs constItute the primary
vegetation. This vcgetation type OftCIl includes oth('r shrubs and subshrubs. as wcll as
wide varicl)' of natl\'e !()rbs. This upland \'egetatH.ln type is consistent with the dry.
sandy soils of the an:a Pronghorn antelope. small mammals. and birds. including sage
grouse. are the primar)" wildltfe spech:s using the sagebrush shrubland habit;lI Deer and
elk also use this habitat t{)r foraging during the winter.

I

I

I

I

Th: Williams Fork Ri\'er upstream of the
reservoir meanders through a rather broad
tloodplain. and the vegetation of the
as~ociated npanan corridor contrasts
dramatically with th~ common upland
sag~brush habitat of area (App~ndix A
and Figure I). The corridllr reCCI\'e~
water through a groundwater conn~ctilln
\\ ith th~ river. allll\\ ing it to ~upport a
di\'erse vegetatlvc commulllty llf em~rgent
\'egetation. grass~s. shrubs. and tr('~s in
Intermingled wilhm thidets and wet
l1l~adl)Ws. The diwrsity and cl1mplcx
arrangcment of [his v~g~tatilm alluws
many ~peci(,.'s of wildlife to u~(' thIS

~

I

I

I

I

HJ:un'l. \\iI1iam, torI. Ri\n RiplOlrian Curridur
....ilhin Iht. I-TRC ProjecI Ruundar~ nur 'h~
R,''O'n..ir lnlo'I.

I

I

\\ ll],~,n-. t",~ R......n""
li',h....k.tn.rro'..'t
}In\U!\ ~flfl--l

~!..)!t.,.,-, l "'1'<"a1,,,n
\\ ,]d,:~..lbr.llJ: ..llr....~ R<1"':"!

PJ~" --l