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<br />' . Tfre flora of the area is characterized as mountain shrub, with the <br />.most conspicuous species being: chokecherry (Prunus sp.), Serviceberry <br />_(Amelch.ier sp~), Scrub. oak (Quercus spp.), and Mountain Mahogany <br />(Cerco.ca.r us montanus), On open, 1eve1 areas, big sage.(:Artemesia sp.) <br />' can be found interspersed amourrg several varieties of bunch grasses. In <br />proter_ted valleys surrounding ponds or brooks aspen yroves (Popu1us tremuloides) <br />' are found. <br />4lildlife in the area is characterized by elk, mule deer, black <br />bear, mountairi'lion, mountain cottontail, and a wide variety of raptor <br />' species. <br />' PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC OVERVIEW <br />Little is known or°. the prehistory of Gunnison County;. Part of the <br />problem lies in .tl~~e fact That archaeological research in the area has <br />1 been limited, and few if a.ny sites have been :excavated. .it also might be <br />' .that prehistoric_occupaGiorr of the area was sporadic .and infrequent, <br />perhaps associated with hunting-gathering forays. Such a lifestyle has <br />been documented for Western Colorado from at least 10,000 B.P. to the <br />present. Evidence for the penetration of prehistoric peoples into this <br />rugged, mountainous area should take the form of isolated projectile <br />' points and flakes, or as small to medium size lithic scatters with or <br />without associated structural features. The Eastern or Uncompayhre Ute <br />' were known to have-frequented the.Ndrth.Fork Valley, and to have resided <br />there. in large.nvmber~s prior td anylo settlement, but~to date no remains <br />' of their camps have been. found (Smith 1974 Kranzush 1977), <br />European intrusions .into the area begin with the Dominguez-Esca- <br />lan.te Exped ition in September 177.6. "fhe friars and Spanish explorers <br />' and militiamen never ventured into the project area proper, but are <br />thought .to have traveled up Hubbard Creek west of the area. After the <br />' defeat and removal of the 'Utes in 1881, the area was settled by Anglo- <br />american stockmen. Coal mining was initiated in the North Fork Valley <br />' in the early 1900's,, and later, orchard development began in the valleys <br />to the west (Kranzush 1977). The Auden Mine; which began its operation <br />' in 1910, is the parent of the present Hawk's Nest Mine. <br /> <br />7 <br />