NATIONAL WETLANDS INVENTORY
MAP REPORT OF CENTRAL COLORADO
FOR. THE 1 :100,000 MAP UNITS OF :
LEADVILLE NE, LEADVILLE SE, LEADVILLE SW, LEADVILLE NW
GRAND JUNCTION NE, GRAND JUNCTION SE
U .S . Fish and Wildlife ServiceDenver, ColoradoJanuary, 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II .
Field Reconnaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
III .
Physical Description of Project Area
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
IV.
Description of Wetland Habitats
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Observed Wetland Vegetation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table I - NWI Wetland Classification Codes . . . . . . . . . 9
V .
Water Regime Description
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
VI.
Imagery and Photographic Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
VII.
Map Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
VIII .
Special Mapping Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
IX.
Map Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
X.
Literature Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 20
Locator Map A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
I . INTRODUCTION
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service's NationalWetlands Inventory (NWI) is producing maps showing thelocation and classification of wetlands and deepwaterhabitats of the United States . Classification of Wetlandsand Deepwater Habitats of the United States by Cowardin etal . (1979) is the document used by the NWI to define andclassify wetlands . Photo interpretation conventions, hydricsoils lists and wetland plant lists are also used toimplement the Cowardin classification system .
The purpose of this map report is to :
(1) provide.information on the production of NWI maps, includingnarrative on imagery and interpretation ; (2) provide adescriptive crosswalk from NWI wetland codes on the map tocommon terminology and to representative plant species foundon specific wetland sites ; and (3) describe local geography,climate, and wetland communities .
II . FIELD RECONNAISSANCE
Field reconnaissance is a necessary procedure in order toaccurately interpret aerial photography . Photographicsignatures are correlated to the wetland habitat in thefield . Collateral information including vegetativecommunities, soil types and topographic setting are furtherevaluated to aid in the photointerpretation process . Thisinformation is evaluated for seasonality and conditionsexisting at the time of photography and at ground truthing .
Project Area
The Central Colorado study area is located in the RockyMountain Forest and Colorado Plateau Provinces which arelocated in Central Colorado . Field reconnaissance coveredthe areas of six 1 :100,000 : Grand Junction NE, GrandJunction SE, Leadville NW, Leadville SW, Leadville NE andLeadville SE .
(Locator Map A) .
Field Personnel
Bill Pearson - U .S . Fish and Wildlife ServiceJaymee Fojtik - Geonex, Inc .Jaymes Pardue - Geonex, Inc .Diane Richards - Geonex, Inc .
Field Dates
July 19 - 27, 1993
Aerial Photography
Primary Source Data (100 .0%)Type :
NHAP Color Infra-Red High AltitudeScale : 1 :58,000
Grand Junction NE ; 9/1/82, 10/6/82, 9/10/83, 9/11/83,9/12/83, 9/20/83, 9/21/83, 8/30/84,9/14/84
Grand Junction SE ; 10/6/82, 9/11/83, 9/12/83, 9/20/83,9/21/83, 8/30/84
Leadville SE ;
9/10/83, 9/12/83, 9/13/83, 9/16/83,9/21/83, 9/05/84
Leadville NE ;
9/10/83, 9/12/83, 9/13/83, 9/16/83,9/21/83, 9/5/84
Leadville NW ;
6/27/82, 7/31/82, 9/10/83, 9/12/83,9/16/83, 9/5/84
Leadville SW ;
6/27/82, 7/31/82, 9/10/83, 9/12/83,9/20/83
Percentage Coverage : All 192 USGS quadrangles were coveredwith the NHAP photography .
Collateral Data
United States Geological Survey (U .S .G .S .) Quadrangles
Soil Conservation Service Soil Surveys
Bailey's Description of the Ecoregions of the United States
National List of Plant Species That Occur In Wetlands :Central Plains (Region V) and Intermountain (Region VIII)
Wetland Plants of the State of Colorado
Hydric Soils of the State Of Colorado
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Plant Keys
Cowardins Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitatsof the United States
U .S .G .S . Water Resource Book Co . 1990 and 1992
III . PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AREA
Geography
The study area is located in the west central portion ofColorado . The majority of the study area is located in theRocky Mountain Forest Province . This ecoregion consists ofnumerous high altitude mountains ranging in elevation from8,000 feet to 14,000 feet . Numerous saturated emergentareas cover these mountains and beaver activity is abundantthroughout . The area includes many national forests such asthe Grand Mesa, Pike, San Isabel, and White River NationalForests . River systems such as the Arkansas, Roaring Fork,and White Rivers flow through this province .
The Colorado Plateau Province occupies the southeasternportion of the study area including the Grand Valley nearGrand Junction . The Colorado River flows through the area .The topography consists of tablelands with elevationsgenerally ranging from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet . Irrigatedhay fields and other agricultural uses are common withinthis province . These fields are generally located adjacentto populated areas .
Climate
The climate in the Rocky Mountain Province varies withaltitude . Precipitation ranges from 20 to 40 inches peryear with a considerable portion falling as snow . Averageannual temperatures are 35°F and 45°F .
The Colorado Plateau Province is characterized by coldwinters .
Summer days are usually hot with nights beingcool . Average annual temperatures are 40°F and 55°F .Average annual precipitation is about 20 inches althoughsome parts receive less than 10 inches .
Vegetation
Vegetation in the Rocky Mountain Province varies withaltitude and is categorized into different zones . Theuppermost zone is the alpine, which is characterized byalpine tundra and the absence of trees . The subalpine isnext and is dominated by subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce .The montane zone is characterized by ponderosa pine andDouglas-fir . After a fire the original forest is replacedby aspen or lodgepole pine .
In the Colorado Plateau Province the area is covered by aridgrasslands and sagebrush is dominant over extensive areas .Cottonwoods and, more rarely, other trees such as alder,grow along some of the permanent streams .
Soils
In the Rocky Mountains, soil orders occur in zonescorresponding to the vegetation zones . These range fromMollisols and Alfisols in the montaine zone to Aridisols inthe foothill zone . In addition, because of steep slopes andrecent glaciation, there are areas of Inceptisols .
In the Colorado Plateau Entisols occur along the floodplainsof major streams . Aridisols occupy the plateau tops, olderterraces and alluvial fans . Bad lands of rough broken landsare extensive in the mountains and on plateaus .
IV . DESCRIPTION OF WETLAND HABITATS IN PROJECT AREA
R3UBG will be used in the high elevations to classify feederstreams of the major drainages . Signature may becamouflaged by the tree canopy but will usually be depictedon the topographic map as perennial . Smaller feeders may beclassified R3UBF .
Irrigation canals void of vegetation are classified R4SBCxand R2UBFx . Vegetated irrigation canals will be classifiedPSSCx or PEMCx according to dominant cover types .
Riverine bars will be classified R3USC, R3USA, R2USC ORR2USA .
Intermittent streams are classified R4SBA or R4SBC accordingto photo signature .
Lacustrine
The reservoirs larger than 20 acres in this study area areclassified L1UBHh and flats associated with these will carrythe L2USCh and L2USAh classification depending on photosignature . Reservoirs larger than twenty acres with a photosignature of aquatic bed will be classified L2ABGh .
Mountain lakes with a bedrock shoreline (regardless of size)will be classified as LlUBH . Shallow lakes in the mountainswith a bedrock shoreline will be L2UBF .
The L2ABG classification will be used on natural lakesgreater than twenty (20) acres . Signatures will be openwater with the presence of either aquatic bed or emergentsinvading from the shoreline .
Riverine
The major drainage basins within the study area are theColorado River, the White River, and the Eagle River . TheColorado, Eagle and White Rivers will be classified R3UBH .
Shallow natural lakes over twenty (20) acres will be labeledL2ABF . Depth, elevation and situation will determinedifference between the intermittently exposed andsemipermanently flooded water regime .
Mining pits and tailing ponds over twenty (20) acres wereobserved in Leadville NE while ground truthing . Thesemining pits and tailing ponds will be classified L1UBGx .
Palustrine
The majority of wetlands in the study area are palustrine .Emergent wetlands classified as PEMF, PEMC, PEMB and PEMAwere found throughout the study area . PEMB and PEMC are thedominant classifications used in this study area . Areas ofaquatic bed PABG and PABF were seen, as well as an abundanceof beaver ponds PABGb . Areas of scrub-shrub PSSC, PSSB andPSSA were more commonly found then wet forested areas PFOA .Hayed fields can be found primarily in the southern portionof the study area .
In the higher elevations saturated emergents and scrub-shrubare numerous . A multitude of springs and areas of beaverponds have a direct correlation to these saturated wetlands .Emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands associated with beaverponds are classified as saturated with the beaver modifier,PSSBb and PEMBb . Many saturated areas were field checkednear Grand Junction . These areas were seeps and located onslopes .
Field check sites were documented where problems existed,i .e ., wetland areas that were not readily recognizable onthe photography . Vegetation observed in these wetlandhabitats were grouped according to class and water regime .The following plant species were identified on check sitesand represent only a small percentage of all wetland plantspecies occurring in the project area .
Palustrine Temporary Emergents :
Hordeum jubatumRumex sp .Phleum pratenseAgrostis alba
Palustrine Seasonal Emergents : PEMC
Eleocharis sp .Scirpus pungensJuncus sp .
Palustrine Saturated Emergents : PEMB
Eleocharis sp .Sphagnum sp .Pedicularis groenlandicaAster sp .Carex sp .Polygonum sp .
Palustrine
Typha sp .Scirpus validusScirpus acutusScirpus pungens
Palustrine semipermanent Aquatic Bed :
PABP
Lemna sp .
Lemna sp .
PEMA
foxtail barleydocktimothyred top
spikerushthreesquare bulrushrush
spikerushsphagnum mosselephants headasterssedgesmartweed
Semipermanent Emergents : PEMF
cattailsoftstem bulrushhardstem bulrushthreesquare
duckweed
Palustrine Intermittently Exposed Aquatic Bed : PABG
duckweed
Palustrine Temporary Scrub-shrub : PSSA
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Russian oliveSalix sp .
willow
Palustrine Seasonal Scrub-shrub : PSSC
Alnus sp .
alderElaeagnus angustifolia
Russian olivePopulus deltoides
eastern cottonwoodSalix sp .
willow
Palustrine Saturated Scrub-shrub : PSSB
Salix sp .
willow
Palustrine Temporary Forested : PFOA
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Russian olivePopulus angustifolia
narrowleaf cottonwoodPopulus deltoides
eastern cottonwoodSalix sp .
willow
OBSERVED WETLAND VEGETATION(Grouped According to Class)
EMERGENT
Aconitum columbianum monkshoodAgrostis alba red topAster sp . astersCarex sp . sedgeEleocharis sp . spikerushHordeum jubatum foxtail barleyJuncus sp . rushPedicularis groenlandica elephants headPhleum pratense timothyPolygonum sp . smartweedRumex sp . dockScirpus acutus hardstem bulrushScirpus pungens threesquare bulrushScirpus validus softstem bulrushSphagnum sp . sphagnum mossTypha sp . cattail
B . AQUATIC BED
Lemna sp . duckweed
C . SCRUB-SHRUB
Alnus sp . alderElaeagnus angustifolia Russian olivePopulus deltoides eastern cottonwoodSalix sp . willow
D . FORESTED
Elaeaqnus ann ustifolia Russian olivePopulus angustifolia narrowleaf cottonwoodPopulus deltoides eastern cottonwoodSalix sp . willow
Table 1. NWI WETLAND CLASSIFICATION CODES, COWARDIN DESCRIPTION AND COMMON TERMINOLOGY
NWI CODE COWARDINWATER REGIME DESCRIPTION COMMON DESCRIPTION VEGETATION
R3UB Riverine, Mountain streams, None(F,G,H) upper perennial, major drainage areas
unconsolidated bottom
R3US Riverine, Sand or gravel bars None(A, C) upper perennial,
unconsolidated shore
R2UB Riverine, Irrigation canals None(F) lower perennial,
unconsolidated bottom
R4SB Riverine, Small streams, creeks, None(A, C) intermittent, streambed or irrigation ditches
Table 1 . NWI WETLAND CLASSIFICATION CODES, COWARDIN DESCRIPTION AND COMMON TERMINOLOGY
NWI CODE COWARDINWATER REGIME DESCRIPTION COMMON DESCRIPTION VEGETATION
LlUB Lacustrine, littoral, Deep lakes, mining pits None(G,H) unconsolidated shore
L2AB Lacustrine, littoral, Shallow lakes Aquatic bed(F,G) aquatic bed Lemna sp . (duckweed)
L2US Lacustrine, littoral, Flats, lake beds None(A,C) unconsolidated shore
PUB Palustrine, open water, settling ponds, None(F,K) unconsolidated bottom fish hatcheries, excavated ponds
PAB Palustrine, Deep basins, impoundments, Aquatic bed(F,G,K) aquatic bed sewage treatment, beaver ponds Lemna sp . (duckweed)
Table 1 . NWI WETLAND CLASSIFICATION CODES, COWARDIN DESCRIPTION AND COMMON TERMINOLOGY
NWI CODE COWARDINWATER REGIME DESCRIPTION COMMON DESCRIPTION VEGETATION
PEM Palustrine, Basins, depressions, Agrostis alba(A,B, C,F) emergent marshes, meadows, (red top)
springs, seeps, oxbows Aster sp . (asters)or drainage areas arex sp . (sedge)
Eleocharis sp .(spikerush)Hordeumjubatum(foxtail barley)Juncus sp . (rush)Pedicularis groenlandica(elephants head)Phleum pratense (timothy)Poly onum. sp . (smartweed)Rumex sp. (dock)Scirpus acutus(hardstem bulrush)Sci us americanus(common threesquare)Scirpus ungens (threesquare)Sci us validus(softstem bulrush)Sphagnum sp . (moss)T pha sp . (cattail)
Table 1 . NWI WETLAND CLASSIFICATION CODES, COWARDIN DESCRIPTION AND COMMON TERMINOLOGY
NWI CODE COWARDINWATER REGIME DESCRIPTION COMMON DESCRIPTION VEGETATION
PSS Palustrine, Thicket, river banks, Alnus sp .(A,C) scrub-shrub seeps, springs, oxbows, (alder)
or drainage areas Elaea ng̀ us angustifolia(Russian olive)Po ulus deltoides(eastern cottonwood)Salix sp . (willow)
PFO Palustrine, River banks, oxbows Elaea nus angustifolia(A) forested floodplains, or (Russian olive)
drainage areas Populus an ustifolia(narrowleaf cottonwood)Populus deltoides(eastern cottonwood)Salix sp. (willow)
PUS Palustrine, Dug outs, impoundments None(A, C) unconsolidated shore
V.
WATER REGIME DESCRIPTION
(A) Temporarily Flooded - Surface water present for brief periodsduring growing season, but water table usually lies well belowsoil surface . Plants that grow both in uplands and wetlands archaracteristic of this water regime .
(B) Saturated - The substrate is saturated to the surface forextended periods during the growing season, but surface water iseldom present .
(C)
Seasonally Flooded - Surface water is present for extendedperiods especially early in the growing season, but is absent bthe end of the growing season in most years . The water tableafter flooding ceases is extremely variable, extending fromsaturated to a water table well below ground surface .
(F) Semipermanently Flooded - Surface water persists throughout thegrowing season in most years . When surface water is absent, thwater table is usually at or very near the land's surface .
(G)
Intermittently Exposed - Surface water is present throughout thyear except in years of extreme drought .
(H) Permanently Flooded - Water covers the land surface throughoutthe year in all years .
(K) Artificially Flooded - The amount and duration of flooding iscontrolled by means of pumps or siphons in combination withdikes or dams .
'VI . IMAGERY
Overall the emulsion of the NHAP color infra-red photography is ofhigh quality . Roll 43 has many shadows and is a bright orangeemulsion . Photo interpretation of upland/wetland breaks wereespecially difficult . The majority of our photography was flown1982, 1983 and 1984 . Ground truthing revealed field conditionssimilar to those portrayed on imagery .
PHOTOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS
Riverine system
Permanent rivers in the study area will be classified R3UBH . Photosignature will be open water .Some examples of this classification arethe Colorado, White and Eagle Rivers . Small streams in the mountainswith an open water signature will be classified R3UBG or R3UBF .These streams may be partially or wholly camouflaged by tree canopy .In these situations, the topo will be used as a guide to determinewhere these streams are located .
Low velocity rivers with a well developed f loodplain will beclassified R2UBF . These riversvalleys of the project area .
Sand, mud or gravel flats along perennial rivers will be classifiedR3USC, R3USA, or R2USC, R2USA . Signature will vary from a white toblue gray mixture .
Lacustrine Svstem
in
are typically found in the low-lying
Intermittent streams with little to no , water present in channel willbe labeled R4SBC or R4SBA .
Mountain lakes, regardless of size, with any part of the shorelinebed rock will be classified LlUBH .
Lakes over twenty acres with an aquatic bed signature will beclassified as L2ABG .
Reservoirs over 20 acres will be L1UBHh and flats associated withthem will be classified L2USCh and L2USAh . Signatures will vary froma bluish gray to white .
Large mining pits with an open water signature will be classifiedL1UBGx .
Palustrine System
Temporarily flooded emergents PEMA were seen mostly in the lowerelevations . Hayed fields in the southern portion of the study areacontained the largest area of temporary emergents observed .Signatures varied from mottled blue to a variety of pink, white,light brown and yellow flesh-toned signatures .
Seasonally flooded emergents PEMC were also found more in the lowerelevations . These usually were in drainages, swales and pockets .Signatures range from pink, red, brown and dark green and usuallyconsisted of two or more of these signatures .
Semipermanently flooded emergents PEMF were found as swales andpockets and in shallow lakes . Signatures vary from dark red/black,reddish purple, dark green/brown, to a textured red . The key forPEMF is the rough texture that the cattail and hardstem produce .This texture is absent in the seasonally flooded signature .
Saturated emergents PEMB were sometimes difficult to distinguish andhave varying signatures depending on the location within the studyarea . These areas are found as springs, on slopes and in themountains . While ground truthing we found that the majority ofemergent wetlands regardless of slope were saturated in the higherelevations . Signatures varied from a light pink to mottled deepershades of pink, red, green and brown . Emergents associated withbeaver dams will be classified as saturated and will carry the beaver(b) modifier .
The aquatic bed classification is used on a variety of wetlands .Pockets, swales, basins and oxbows will be classified PABF .Signature will be open water or aquatic bed which is usually pink orwhite . Impoundments with the above signature will also be PABF .orPABG with the impounded modifier (h) . Mountain ponds will be labeledPABG, beaver ponds will also be labeled PABG but will carry thebeaver modifier (b) .
Sewage ponds will be classified PABK and havethe excavated modifier (x) .
Temporarily flooded scrub-shrub PSSA were found in swales, pockets,stream channels and next to rivers . Signature is a pink/red with afluffy texture .
Seasonally flooded shrubs PSSC were seen more in oxbows and pockets .Signature was deeper in color and will have an emergent understory .
Saturated shrubs PSSB were found on slopes, springs associated withbeaver ponds and also in the higher elevations . Signature will besimilar to the temporary and seasonal shrubs . Saturated shrubs inthe mountains were smaller, less textured and the signature waspink/red or sometimes a mixture of reds, browns and greens .
Temporarily flooded forested PFOA wetlands were mainly found alongstreams or in channels . The trees are usually compact, and will havean emergent understory . Signatures will be red to brown tones .
VII . MAP PREPARATION
Wetland delineation and classification is in accordance with Cowardiet al (1979) . Further wetland mapping guidance is provided by NWIphotographic and cartographic conventions in concert with Nationalconsistency . Delineations are produced through stereoscopicinterpretation of 1 :58,000 scale color infrared photography .
Field checks of areas found within Grand Junction NE, Grand JunctionSE, Leadville NE, Leadville SE, Leadville NW and Leadville SW weremade prior to the actual delineation of wetlands . Field check siteswere selected to clarify varying signatures found on the photographyThese photographic signatures were then identified in the field usinvegetation types and soil types, as well as additional input fromfield personnel .
Collateral data included USGS topographic maps, SCS soil surveys,USGS water resources data, vegetation, climate, and ecoregionalinformation .
The user of the map is cautioned that, due to the limitation ofmapping primarily through aerial photointerpretation, a smallpercentage of wetlands may be unidentified . Since the photographywas taken during a particular time and season, there may bediscrepancies between the maps and current field conditions . Changein landscape which occurred after the photography was taken wouldresult in such discrepancies .
Aerial photointerpretation and drafting were completed by Geonex,Inc ., St . Petersburg, Florida with quality control conducted by theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service .
VIII-. SPECIAL MAPPING PROBLEMS
The emulsion of the 1 :58K NHAP color infra-red photography overallis of high quality . Problems do exist with roll 43 . This rollhas shadows and a bright orange emulsion . The identification ofupland/wetland breaks was especially difficult in these areas .
Another problem was encountered in the Grand Mesa area of LeadvilleSW . An unidentified emergent growing in the transitional zones ofthe upland/wetlands areas made photointerpretation difficult . Thisplant produced a saturated return on the photography but in the fieldit was decided that these areas were upland . An attempt was made toidentify the emergent but was unsuccessful .
IX . MAP ACQUISITION
To discuss any questions concerning these maps, please contact :
Regional Wetland CoordinatorU .S . Fish and Wildlife Service - Region 6Denver Federal CenterP . 0 . Box 25486Denver, CO 80225
To order maps call 1-800-USA-MAPS .
Maps are identified by the name of the corresponding USGS 1 :24,000scale topographic quadrangle name . Topographic map indices areavailable from the USGS .
co-c . rptJP/tea .nwi
X .
LITERATURE CITED
Bailey, R .G ., 1978 . Description of The Ecoregions of The UnitedStates . United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service .
Cooper, D .J ., A Handbook of Wetland Plants of the Rocky MountainRegion , 1989 . United States Environmental Protection Agency, RegionVIII .
Cowardin, L .M ., V . Carter, F .C . Golet, and E .T . LaRue, 1979 .Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of The UnitedStates . United States Department of Interior, Fish and WildlifeService, FWS/PBS - 79/81 .
Hydric Soils of the State Colorado . United States Department of theInterior, Fish and Wildlife Service .
Wetland Plants of the State of Colorado . United States Department othe Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service .
National List of Plant Species That Occur In Wetlands : Central Plai(Region V) . United States Department of the Interior, Fish andWildlife Service .
National List of Plant Species That Occur In Wetlands : Intermountai(Region VIII) . United States Department of the Interior, Fish andWildlife Service .
Soil Survey of Rifle County Area, Colorado , 1984 . United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service .
Soil Survey of Jackson County Area, Colorado , 1982 . United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service .
Soil Survey of Chaffee Lake County Area, Colorado , 1984 .
UnitedStates Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service .
Soil Survey of Taylor River Area, Colorado , 1980 . United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service .
40'
08-AIAL
108°
CENTRAL COLORADO PROJECT AREA1 :250,000 SCALE
4010(5-AlCRAIG
APPENDIX ALOCATOR MAP
106°
40104-A1GREELEY
104°
l olp
40102-A1STEALING
102*41 "
4:0-
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