Laserfiche WebLink
In most drainages, riparian habitat is limited to a narrow band along the bottom and is in <br />poor condition. Species such as willows. alders and hawthorn are not found in large <br />stands. Along the Dry Fork ol' Minnesota Creek many ofthe willow stands are dying out <br />or are in poor condition. The same is true for much of the Lick Creek drainage. Along <br />Deep Creek riparian habitat is limited and is vc?•y spotty. The poor quality of these <br />riparian areas is reflected in the low amount of use by species of wildlife normally <br />associated with this type. There is some better riparian habitat along the Dry Fork <br />drainage that does support more wildlife. There are small pockets ot•ripanan habitat in <br />other areas, such <br />poison Gulch and Deer Creek drainages. None ofthis habitat will be affected by <br />activities associated with the mining operations. <br />Wetlands <br />Wetland plant Conlin Lill Ities, other than those associated xvith seeps, springs. and <br />stockponds, are typically confined to the borders of creeks and drainage channels. The <br />soils of the wetlands located in the major drainage channels nlav exhibit light-colored <br />matrices xvith little evidence of hvdric indicators due to the continuous flooding and <br />scouring typical of such channel gradients. Conversely, soils of the drainage channels <br />having more gentle gradients are darker in color with chromas of less than ? being <br />common. Wetland hydrology is provided by channel flooding, lateral flow, and <br />subirrigation. Wetland/Upland transition zones are typically narrow to abrupt as a <br />Drv Fork of Minnesota Creek riparian area