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<br />IV - WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS
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<br />4-0l. General Characteristics. The Arkansas River originates
<br />in central Colorado and flows in a southerly direction for about
<br />60 miles to above Sa1ida, Colorado, and thence eastward to John
<br />Hartin Dam. The total and contributing drainage area above
<br />Pueblo Dam is 4,670 square miles. Thee Arkansas River is a steep
<br />mountain stream from its source to Csnon City, a distance of 128
<br />miles, and has about 25 mountain peaks above l4,OOO feet in ele-
<br />vation in and around the headwater area. The Arkansas River emer-
<br />ges from the mountainous area through the Royal Gorge. Below the
<br />gorge, the valley gradually gets wider through the foothills
<br />which merge into the Grest Pleins in the vicinity of Pueblo. The
<br />stream gradient often exceeds 50 feet per mile above Canon City
<br />and decreases to 10 feet per mils at Pueblo. See Plate 4-1 for
<br />the streambed profile of the Arkansas River above John Martin Dam.
<br />In the reach from tha source to Salida. flows are produced by small
<br />perennial streams which originate On the high mountain peaks. The
<br />larger of these tributaries are Cottonwood Creek, which enters near
<br />Buena Vista, and the South Arkansas River, which enters near Salida.
<br />In the reach between Sa1ida and Canon City, the river enters a deep
<br />narrow gorge. This gorge is about 55 miles long and contains the
<br />famous Royal r~rge with vertical walls aa high as 1,000 feet. The four
<br />ma.10r tributaries in thh reach ara Badger Creek, Texas Crel'k,
<br />Grape Creek, and Currant Creek. The Arkans.s River emerges from
<br />the gorge at Cenon City and flows through a narrow valley to
<br />Pueblo. In this reach, six major tributaries enter the river and
<br />they are Fourmile Creek, Beaver Creek,. Turkey Creek, Hardacrabble
<br />Creek, Galbeth Creek. and Dry Creek. From Pueblo to John Martin
<br />Dam, the Arkansas River flows through a broad valley through the
<br />plains with s width of 5 miles in some locations. Within this reach,
<br />10 large tributaries enter the river. The south bank tributaries
<br />are St. Charles River. Huerfano River. Apishspa River. Timpas
<br />Creek. and Purgatoire River. The north bank tributaries are
<br />Fountain Creek, Chico Creek, Kramer Creek, Horse Creek, and Adobe
<br />Creek. The vegetative cover in the basin above Pueblo is widely
<br />diversified because of the wide range of annual precipitation
<br />from the high mountains to the plains. The highest mountain peaks
<br />are above timberline and are devoid of cover. In the timber areas,
<br />conifers, aspens, brush. and associated grasses are found. In the
<br />woodland zone, pinon, juniper, scrub oak, sagebrush, and scat-
<br />tered growths of bunch grasa predominate. In the plains region,
<br />vegetation conaists mainly of graases and shrubs, and occasional
<br />cactuses. The only trees in the plains region are cottonwood.
<br />willow, tamarisk, and associated deciduous trees that fringe the
<br />water courses and irrigation ditches.
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