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terrace ridge of the broad Oxford Mesa, above the Florida River. Boundaries of the seep areas were <br />distinct and dominated by relatively obligate and facultative wetland plant species within highly permeable <br />The slope apparently presents "a seepage face <br />caused by groundwater flow intersecting a <br />land surface" with "till deposits...arranged <br />with more permeable layers overlying" a less <br />permeable one, creating a shallow perched <br />aquifer. Erosions through [he discontinuity <br />has appazently caused exposure of the aquifer <br />and seepage at the surface" (Brinson, et. al. <br />1993). 7ypha spp., Cicuta dougiasii, Carex <br />spp., Juncus.arctlcus and Rumex. crispus <br />were prevalent in the Ustic <br />Torriorthents/Ustoflic Haplargids complex <br />where the seeps were present. Matrix soil of <br />the cobbles within the seep areas was a light <br />Photo 2: North Seep brown/yellow silty clay loam, with a more <br />dark silty loam prevalent in upland areas <br />under the pinion (Pines edulis) and juniper (Sabina osteosperma) vegetation types. Smaller cobbles were <br />more prevalent in these darker silty loans of the pinion juniper. A remnant mid-slope catchment ditch is <br />appazent near the upper extent of [he seep aeeas, but does not appear to convey seep or slope flows. <br />The seeps exposed at mid-slope continue saturation above the surface to the bottom of the terrace slope mtil they <br />are terminated at a slight topographic rise and anorth-south irrigation ditch The northern-most seep is dissected <br />by an upland area at the base of slope and its down-slope portion is adjacent to the above hrigation ditch (Photo 3). <br />The mid property and southern-most seep extends their boundaries into the irrigation catchment and may transfer <br />surface water into the ditch The ditch continues <br />from this point southward and its waters are <br />periodically taken and applied to fields as flood <br />irrigation water, periodicaly reentering <br />wastewater ditches as dissipated overland flow. <br />Approximately '/, mile north of its southern <br />terrrtinus on a low terrace above the Florida <br />River, it is adjacent to the BP Southern Ute GU <br />/EF1 No. 2 where flows within the ditch <br />temrinate to an irrigated pasture and are <br />intermittent and rue (Photo 4). <br />As such, there is no apparent connection of <br />surface waters from the seep areas to waters that <br />may be consideredjurisdictional under the Clean <br />Water Act, or otherwise considered Waters of <br />the United Spates. <br />These areas have little to no function within <br />the greater hydrological landscape because <br />they are disconnected from natural surface <br />features in the region (e.g. Florida River) and <br />are likely created from irrigation water <br />recharge on the fields above [he terrace. <br />Function for wildlife is likely low due to the <br />unstable soils along the slope, their steep <br />gradient, and their limited extent. <br />CrfAS Prynuarrs rnnronmm~al Cmsi~lting. LLC <br />Pholo 1: Irriggnoo Terminus to Field <br />