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Pinyon <br /> 3.4.2.1 Arkansas River Wetland Complex <br /> Wetland I <br /> Wetland (WL) I included PSS wetlands associated with the Arkansas River, the Abandoned Channel of the <br /> Arkansas River, and the Saint Charles River (the Arkansas River Wetland Complex) (Figure 2; Appendix A, <br /> Photo 10). Due to the water depth and dense vegetation (i.e., lack of access), portions of the Arkansas River <br /> Wetland Complex were not formally delineated; rather, these areas were assumed (conservatively) to be <br /> wetland based on similar vegetation in delineated areas.The Arkansas River Wetland Complex was dominated <br /> by Russian olive and saltcedar. Coyote willow and plains cottonwoods were also noted intermixed in some <br /> areas. The understory consisted of a variety of herbaceous species such as reed canary grass, scratchgrass <br /> (Muhlenbergia asperifolia), narrowleaf cattail, and softstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tobemoemontani) along the <br /> Abandoned Channel of the Arkansas River and annual beard-grass (Polypogon monspeliensis), redtop (Agrostis <br /> gigantea), prostrate knotweed (Polygonum oviculare), common spikerush (Eleocharis polustris), and Baltic rush <br /> Uuncus balticus) along the Arkansas River.As noted above,the Abandoned Channel of the Arkansas River was <br /> primarily covered with common duckweed, a floating aquatic plant, within the OHWM. Because common <br /> duckweed is an unrooted aquatic plant it can change with changes in water flows and therefore these areas <br /> were deemed non-wetland waters instead of wetlands. Sampling Point(SP) 5 and SP-7 were excavated in WL- <br /> I (Figure 2f and 2g; Appendix B). The areas passed the Dominance Test for Hydrophytic Vegetation. Hydric <br /> soil indicators observed were Redox Dark Surface (F6) and Hydrogen Sulfide (A4) for SP-5 and Depleted <br /> Matrix (F3) for SP-7. Primary wetland hydrology indicators observed were High Water Table (A2) at ten and <br /> eight inches and Saturation (A3) at one inch and from two to 20 inches for SP-5 and SP-7, respectively. <br /> Hydrogen Sulfide Odor (CI) was also observed at SP-5. Secondary hydrology indicators for SP-5 and SP-7 <br /> included Geomorphic Position (D2) and both areas passed the FAC-Neutral Test (D5). <br /> 3.4.2.2 Excelsior Ditch Wetlands <br /> Wetlands 2 through 8 <br /> WL-2 through WL-8 included PEM wetlands associated with the Excelsior Ditch (Figure 2;Appendix A, Photo <br /> 11).SP-3 was excavated in WL-3,while the remaining wetlands associated with Excelsior Ditch were delineated <br /> based on similar vegetation and hydrologic conditions and reference pits were excavated throughout to confirm <br /> hydric soils and hydrology. Wetlands 2 through 8 contained species such as reed canary grass, annual beard- <br /> grass, common spikerush, and Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum). SP-3 was completed in WL- <br /> 3,on the south bank of Excelsior Ditch (Figure 2a;Appendix B).The area passed the Rapid Testfor Hydrophytic <br /> Vegetation. The hydric soil indicator observed was a Depleted Matrix (F3). The primary wetland hydrology <br /> indicator observed was Oxidized Rhizospheres on Living Roots (C3). Secondary hydrology indicators included <br /> Geomorphic Position (D2) and the area passed the FAC-Neutral Test (D5). <br /> 3.4.2.3 Thunderbird Lake Wetlands <br /> Wetland 9 <br /> WL-9 included PSS wetlands around Thunderbird Lake (Figure 2b;Appendix A, Photo 12).WL-9 contained an <br /> overstory of Russian olive and a diverse understory of reed canary grass, scratchgrass, rough barnyard grass <br /> (Echinochloa muricato), common sunflower, swamp verbena (Verbena hastato), and common threesquare. SP-I <br /> was completed in WL-9, on the east bank of Thunderbird Lake on a small peninsula (Figure 2b; Appendix B). <br /> The area passed the Dominance Test for Hydrophytic Vegetation. The hydric soil indicator observed was a <br /> Depleted Matrix (F3). Primary wetland hydrology indicators observed were High Water Table (A2) at ten <br /> inches and Saturation (A3) at ground surface to 20 inches. Secondary hydrology indicators included <br /> Geomorphic Position (D2)and the area passed the FAC-Neutral Test(D5). Numerous reference soil pits were <br /> Biological Resources Report <br /> Thunderbird Property <br /> Pueblo County, Colorado Page 10 <br />