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<br />South Platte River, Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvement Project- Vegetation Management Plan <br /> <br /> <br />Reach D) West Oxford Avenue - Hampden Avenue <br />Engineered Structures - Reach D includes a series of drop structures, ramps, culverts, and <br />bridges. Vegetation - High quality riparian habitat in this reach is found in this reach and is <br />dominated by large, undisturbed cottonwood gallery forest adjacent to wide continuous <br />sandbars with willow thicket. The willow understory consists of cattails, sedge, rush, grass, <br />and forbs. The upland-riparian understory is dominated with shrubs. This reach may contain <br />suitable habitat for the Federal and State Listed Threatened Ute ladies' -tresses orchid. <br />Wildlife - Essential breeding habitat for numerous of species of resident and migratory birds. <br />Open sandbars provide critical foraging habitat for shorebirds. Mature cottonwood trees <br />provide nesting, hunting, perching, and loafing habitat for raptors. The intact deciduous <br />forest is important habitat for mammals. Wetlands, sandbars, and riparian shrub lands are <br />important habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Off-channel wetland and aquatic habitats are <br />important nursery habitats for fish. Riparian woodland and shrub land ecosystems provide <br />optimum shelter and food for wildlife. The Bear Creek tributary, which flows from the <br />foothills to the plains, joins the South Platte River providing an important migratory corridor <br />for wildlife such as, mule deer that migrate between the two ecosystems. Potential listed <br />species that may find suitable habitat in this site include the Preble's meadow jumping <br />mouse, northern leopard frog, common garter snake, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, ferruginous <br />hawk, western yellow-billed cuckoo, and Iowa darter. This reach is highly valuable to <br />wildlife species. Hydrology - This reach includes the confluence of Bear Creek and the S. <br />Platte River which creates a large flood plain which supports riparian cottonwood gallery <br />forest. Several Englewood Golf Course Ponds occur in the reach as well. Soils - River <br />alluvium consists of sand, gravel, and cobble with some large boulders. Bank soils are <br />higher in organic material and include sandy clay silt. <br /> <br />Page 13 <br />Final Report - April 30, 2008 <br />