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3.0 DESCRI?TION 0° T1-N; STUDY AREA <br />There are two basic m:rm~ne^.ts of the aeuatic Study Area: <br />• <br />i) The Nerth Fork of the Gunnison from the Highway 187 bridge <br />crossing to a point 100-200 yards atx~ve the railroad spur <br />Nestle (approximately 1.65 miles), and <br />2) Stevens Gulch Creek from the mouth to a line approximately <br />parallel tc the mine. <br />These areas are illustrated in Map 1. <br />The North For'r. is a moderate gradient stream within the Study Area with <br />an average slope of 34 ft. mile. Along must of its length the stream is <br />lined with a thin line of willow and cottonwood trees and orchards are set <br />bacl; slightly from the banks. Stream bed xidth Ss in the orde_^ o: 80- 150 <br />feet in most cases. In the upper part of the Study Psea most of the <br />• channel is wetted at lower flows, but in the lower Study Area there is more <br /> mez^.dering with ~equently less than haL° of the stream bed wetted. This <br />lower area has been badly disturbed by sand and gravel operations and is not <br />in a natural state. <br />River substrate in most locations is large cobble with some fine sand <br />and silt '_~eneath the cobble. Cobble sizes range up to about 18-20 inches <br />and are 1a=ge on t::ne average (~:-6 inches). There is often heave filimentous <br />algal growth o^ t:^.ese cobble, particularly in the slew ~r water, but extending <br />th=oug:: :host of the s`,seam. Aiuch of the stream is shallow, and riffle-type <br />habitat, ~:ith a few deeper pools to a few feet (based or. low flow cordltions <br />in fall and winter). There are few large boulders or precipitous drops into <br />mols. In some areas banks are slightly undercut, providing cover for la=ger <br />fish. <br /> <br />3-1 <br />