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Vegetation vs~ries with the elevation and topography <br />of the study area. Alluvial bottoms contain the big sage • <br />community with other shrubs, especially snowberry, making <br />up a Larger portion of this community than is true of the <br />Seneca II-W coal Lease. A few components are thistle, wheat <br />grass, and needle and thread grass. Slopes and ridgetops <br />usually contain the big sage community. Codominant species <br />within the scrub oaf; community vary from area to area but <br />scrub oak, chokecherry, and snowberry appear in variable <br />percentages. Aspen stands are present in more sheltered <br />areas. <br />A number of animals were observed during fieldwork. <br />These include deer, cottontail, jackrabbit, porcupine, 13- <br />striped ground squirrel, two types of chipmunk, vulture, <br />redtaiLed hawk, a Large falcon, garter snakes, and a small <br />green snake. <br />PaleocLimate* <br />There has been Little paleocLimatological research in • <br />this portion of Colorado. However, it may be possible <br />to suggest several trends (see Table I). Amore precise <br />synthesis of Colorado east slope paleocLimate, drawing from <br />a number of sources, especially the work of James Benedict, <br />is present in Burney et a1. (197g). During Late Wisconsin <br />times, the Pinedale glaciation, one of three advances, occurred <br />in Colorado. Climate was moister and cooler in the summers <br />and winters (Richmond 1965).** Temperatures during the <br />summer at 8,000 feet could have been similar to those of <br />11,700 feet today (Husted 1962). <br />After the Pinedale glaciation, the ALtithermal brought <br />about an increase in temperature and a decrease in moisture <br />(Outcalt and MacPhail 1965). Several fluctuations occurred <br />during the Altithermal, with the Altithermal maximum occur- <br />ring at 7500-6500 BP, probably causing the human abandonment <br />r 1 <br />U <br />* Portions were adopted from Colle, in Burney et a1. 1979b. <br />** Personal communication, Russel Graham, July 15, 1979. <br />4 <br />