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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION . W A 00 t.) A diversity of vegetation zones is found in the area due to the variety in elevation, topography, and climate. Areas of mountain shrubs and coniferous forests occur in the vicinity of Glenwood Springs where conditions are cool and moist. Wetland vegetation types including wil- lows. cotton....oods. and tamarisk are found along stream bottoms throll~h- out the area where sufficient moisture is available. Major vegetative types in the western portion of the area include saltbush, greasewood, and grassland. Wildlife in the area includes numerous species of large and small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Large mammals include deer and elk in the Glenwood Sprin~8-Dotsero area and antelope near the Colorado- Utah State line. Mule deer are found along the entirt! len~th of the Colorado River. Waterfowl are common and large numbers winter along the Colorado River between Rifle and the State line. Endangered terrestrial species include the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, whooping crane, ::lnci possibly the black-footed ferret. . Fish in the Colorado River in the area vary depenrHng on w:tter temperatures. Suckers, chubs. and carp are found throughout the :trea. Whitefish and hrown and rainbow trout are found in a colr!. water zone from Dotsero to Rifle, From Rifle to Parachute. A transiti.on zone SlIp- ports both trout species, channel catfish, black bullhear!.. anr!. J';rel:"n sllnfi~h. Below Parachute, warm water specie!'; are preciominant anci channel catfish are thl." primAry game fish. Two endangered fish specie.., the Colorado squawfish and humpback Chllh, are found in the Golorado R.iver downstream from Palisade. Much of Glenwood Canyon is within thl:" White R.iver Sational Forest and thus is in Federal ownership, Continuous blocks of public: lancis administered by the Bureau of Land Management (8LM) are located in Gar- field and Mesa Countieo; between Gle'1wood Springs anci the Colorado-Utah State line. Private land ownership in the unit area is generally re- stricted to lands along the Colorado River and includes the saline sprinjl1;s near Dotsero and at Glenwood Springs. Major land uses are urban and recreation in and around Glenwood Sprin~s; recre.<ttion <tnd transporta- tion in Glenwood Canyon: and jI1;razing and wildlife around Dotsero and near the Colorado-Utah State line. Major uses of the privately owned lands are urban and agricultural. Public: Involvement . Plannin~ activities for the Glenwood-Dot~ero Springs Unit be~an in January 1980 with a ~otLce of Initiation of InvestL.~ation. On Decem- ber 16, 1980, a public meeting was held in Glenwoorl Springs to explain the study to the public, to obtain information, and to enc:oura~e partic- ipation in planning. A planning team organizational meeting was held February 3, 1981, and four 5ubteams were formed to propose solutions, develop and evaluate alternatives, and recommend a plan. The subteam.<; were composed of representatives of the Bureau of Reclamati.on (Reclama- t ion) and other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and pri- vate industry, 4