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<br />The geology of the river valley changes dramatically in this 139 miles. <br /> <br />< <br /> <br />In Glenwood Canyon, from Dotsero to Glenwood springs, geologic formations <br /> <br />exposed consist of Sawatch quartzite, shale, ando granite. From Glemrood <br /> <br />Springs to Rifle, Colorado, the major groups exposed are red and grey <br /> <br />sandstones. Shale and sandstone are the dominant outcroppings from Rifle to the <br /> <br />Utah border. <br /> <br />This semi:"arid portion of Colorado is characterized by sage and short grass <br /> <br />covered valleys with steep hillsides and cliffs leading to mesas and buttes of <br />/ <br />pinon pine and one-seeded juniper. Available land is used primarily for the <br /> <br />raising of cattle and hay. Farming and orchard cultivation increase in the <br /> <br />area of Grand Junction. <br /> <br />As the Colorado flows west through the State, irrigation demands increase. <br /> <br />Water is diverted from the Colorado and the tributaries to outlying areas. <br /> <br />Return water empties into the Colorado River after traveli.ng miles through <br /> <br />man-made canals and ditches. <br /> <br />Through the winter months, la.rge numbers of cattle are penned and fed on <br /> <br />the banks of the Colorado and its tributaries. Only in a few instances are the <br /> <br />cattle separated by a physical barrier from direct access to the River. The <br /> <br />River and the tributaries provide water for the animals. This practice provides <br /> <br />a pathway for potential nutrient enrichment of the Colorado River each year by <br /> <br />direct contamination and runoff. <br /> <br />Physical characteristics of the Colorado River remain much the same <br /> <br />throughout the study area. Short stretches of riffles and white water are <br /> <br />separated by long runs of deep, slower water. The white water stretches are <br /> <br />-6- <br />