2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (160)

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This resulted in 2.23 miles of Wilson Creek being recorded, or the entire segment through the study area. A total of 4.94 miles of Jubb Creek and the West Fork of Jubb Creek were recorded, from the "Artesian Well" down to the point where Jubb Creek exits the study area at County Road 32. Finally, a total of 3.56 miles of Collom Gulch were recorded from a fence crossing that could be identified on aerial imagery down to a point where the stream exits the study area at County Road 32. The ephemeral reaches East Fork of Jubb Creek and Little Collom Gulch were evaluated with unrecorded checkpoints. Checkpoints were also established at interim points between the 0.1-mile stations wherever conditions warranted (e.g., change in width or character of streamside wetland, road crossing, etc.), however, only the pertinent data were recorded at these interim points. At each 0.1-mile station, data. were recorded with regard to composition and width of the streambed, combined width of the wetland along each bank, shape and estimated depth of the channel, and up to five of the most dominant vegetation species within an approximate 50-foot reach. On occasion, a soil pit was excavated and Munsell colors noted. In addition to the streamside wetlands along the various drainages, several (49) stock tanks ?- (livestock watering facilities) were observable across the study area. An average size of these stock tanks was determined to be 0.113 acres (70' X 70?. A majority of these exist on a defined waterway resulting from a downgradient berm and fed by either surface flow within drainages or by ground water discharges (seeps and springs). A few stock tanks are located in upland circumstances where they either collect overland sheet flow or are supplied by well water that is either delivered by gravity or by pumping. Following detailed analyses of overall site characteristics, wetland / upland boundaries were either GPS'd with a sub-meter Trimble (for larger or problematic wetland areas) or were draft mapped in the field at the approximate 0.1-mile intervals along stream courses. Findings Field conditions at the time of site evaluations in August, 2005 were ideal for the evaluation of all three variables necessary for wetland determination (vegetation, hydrology and soils). Floral growth in most areas was mature, highly productive, readily identifiable, and had not been overly grazed by domestic livestock or wildlife. Given the streamside nature of the majority of wetlands, hydrology (typically soil saturation) was also ideal for observation. • CIEDARCREEK A&MCM 5, INC. . Page 38 2005 Collom Vegetation Survey