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also for the color, diversity and interest they add to rural and urban life styles. Some irrigation induced wetlands may prove to be important native plant habitats. Frequently disturbed wetland areas, such as ditch banks and open drains, are usually vegetated by hardy invader plant species. Seepage wet- lands along the major canals, often undisturbed for nearly 100 years, have more diversified, stable plant populations. Due to their age and stability, they may prove important as reservoirs of native wetland vegetation and as "relict" areas for vegetation studies. There are an estimated 39,600 acres of wetland within the irrigated area of the Lower Gunnison Unit, including 37,400 acres of wetland in the irrigated portion of the study area. Table 111-1 shows the probable water source supplying these wetlands. Soils with gley characteristics, both red and gray which develop in permanently wet soils, make up about 6,000 acres of the natural wetlands. These gley soils are not expected to be affected by the salinity control program. Irrigation contributes a major portion of the water supply to some 14,800 acres, 37.4 percent, of the total wetlands. Table 111-2 identifies those wetlands influenced by irrigation, either separately or in combination with other water sources. TABLE III-1 1/ WETLANDS AS CLASSIFIED BY WATER SOURCES, LOWER GUNISON SALINITY CONTROL STUDY, COLORADO Percent of Total Wetlands Acres Water Sources Natural Onfarm Irrigation Canal Natural & Onfarm Irrigation Natural & Canal Natural & Onfarm Irrigation & Canal Onfarm Irrigation & Canal 60.1% 15.3 1.7 19.2 0.8 0.1 2.8 23,810 6,050 620 7,610 320 40 _1,100 Total 1/ Ref. Lower Gunnison River Basin Rector, Mustard and Windell, 1979. Wetland p. 16. 100.0% 39,600 Inventory and Evaluation, III-7 CG1225