WSP05425

• File Number: 8101
• Description: Arkansas River Basin Description
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/1/1962
• Author: High Plains SCD
• Title: Watershed Work Plan - Limon Watershed Protection Project - Elbert and Lincoln Counties - Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The upper part of the West drainage contains relatively steep
slopes and is dissected by numerous deep ravines, The remainder of
the watershed above the Town of LUuon generally has a broadly rolling
topography. The major streams draining this area occupy broad,
grassed floodplains that range from 500 to 1,000 feet in width, The
stream channels are incised from 5 to 10 feet below the general
floodplain surface and are usually narrow with grassed banks and
beds.

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In the lower part of the watershed, the floodplains of the three
tributary streams join to form a broad, gently sloping alluvial
plain on which most of the Town of Limon is located. This plain
occupies a low terrace position in relation to Big Sandy Creek.

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Soils.- The principal soils in the upper one-third of the
watershed are those developed on sandy shales of the Fox Hills
and Pierre formations. These soils are predominantly sandy clay
loams and are shallow to moderately deep, Internal drainage is
slow to moderate, Small areas of very fine sandy loam and some areas
of rough gullied land are present at the extreme upper end,

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The lower two-thirds of the watershed contains extensive
areas of soils developed on eolian and alluvial materials as well
as soils developed on shales of the Pierre formation, The eolian
materials have a high percentage of silt and the soils are primarily
loams. Water intake is generally good, Soils on alluvial materials
and on shale are predominantly clay and clay loam and some are high
in alkaline salts. The intake of water is usually slow on these
soils,

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Range Sites.- The principal kinds of rangelands and the approximate
percentages of each are: Clayey Plains range site (45 percent);
Loamy Plains range site (25 percent); Loamy Slopes range site (15
percent); and Breaks range site (15 percent), Range condition was
determined by comparing the present vegetation on each range site
with the potential vegetation that the site can grow, The major
portion of the area (about 85 percent) was found to be in good
condition. The condition of the remaining 15 percent ranged from
poor to excellent" Approximately 2,500 acres of the Clayey
Plains and Loamy Slopes areas have been contour-furro,,,,d.

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