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NRC Inc. 1890 DIC KERSON ROAD • RENO, NEVADA 89503 • (702) 323-1338 August 7, 1979 Notes on six color infrared aerial photographs belonging to the Energy Fuels Corporation, Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Mine 1, Middle Creek. Photo Number 616. 9/22/78 That reach of Middle Creek shown on photograph N616 shows some gullying and a bit of riparian vegetation. The greatest a- mount of riparian vegetation is found near the center of the photograph where the creek goes through a gap, and on the east side of the photo. Most of the reach was not viewable in stereo on the accompanying black and white photographs, although the area shown outlined in yellow on the black and white frame was. r 1 L_J It is probable that where the creek has gullied, the water table has been lowered. Some of the soils may have once sup- ported riparian vegetation prior to the qulley cutting. Only a small percentage of the valley floor of Middle Creek now supports riparian vegetation. This might well be on alluvial surfaces, although they seem narrow. Evidence for a wider alluvial deposition along the valley floor will require a close look at the soils in the field. I would estimate that riparian vegetation covers less than five percent of the valley floor of Middle Creek. However, I could only examine about 30 percent of the reach of the creek on photo 616 in stereo. My estimate was made while examining color IR photo 616 monocularly. On the center of the east side of the frame, the creek widens out into an area that apparently is periodically inundated (the area outlined in yellow on the black and white photograph). The color IR photo (9-22-78) is still quite reflective in the infrared over at least i of the flat area, suggesting that when not inundated, this is a meadow with enough underground recharge to keep it wet into the fall of the year; it is most likely alluvium. In other words, only about 10 percent or less of the reach of Middle Creek shown in this photograph would qualify as an alluvial valley floor. • I EN VIRONMENTALIMPACT STUDIES • AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY • FOREST AND RANGE MANAGEMENT