DOCSLIB.ORG

Nebraska Sandhills Ecosystem

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Nebraska Sandhills Ecosystem NEBRASKA SANDHILLS ECOSYSTEM PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION In small areas within the ecosystem as The dunes which form Nebraska’s well as in areas adjacent to the ecosystem, Sandhills were created by wind-blown row crop agriculture has presented a sands. These sands are now held in place stress also. In addition to the drainage of by mixed grass prairie vegetation. The wetlands, it has led to desertification as a ground water table beneath the dunes is result of exposure of bare soil. However, very high. Groundwater dis charge gives in some areas, irrigation has led to Location: rise to spring-fed streams and various creation of wet areas, through pumping of North-central types of wetlands (1.3 million acres in groundwater to the surface Ground water Nebraska total) in the valleys between the dunes. has been polluted with nutrients and Deciduous trees, such as willows and herbicides. cottonwoods, can be found along some of the streams. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Project size: In recognition of the uniqueness of the 12.5 million acres Twelve federally-listed threatened and ecosystem, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife endangered species can be found in this Service (FWS) drafted a program in 1980 ecosystem. Some examples include Hay- designed to purchase easements on the den’s penstemon, the prairie-fringed wetlands to protect them from drainage. Initiator: orchid, and American burrowing beetle. After vehement opposition of local U.S. Fish & In addition, six state-listed species occur landowners, the plan was discontinued. Wildlife Service here, four of which are fish living in the In 1990 a different approach was taken, spring-fed streams. Currently, over 95% when a Sandhills coordinator was hired of the Sandhills is covered by native whose main task was to develop a grassland. The lands are primarily in program with the support of the private ownership and used for grazing. landowners. As a result, the Sandhills In addition, limited row crop agriculture Task Force was formed. The majority of takes place. However, due to the poor, its members are local landowners, many of sandy soils, crop agriculture has not been whom were selected by locally active successful in the past. organizations such as the Nebraska Cattlemen, Upper Loup Natural Resources ECOSYSTEM STRESSES District, and the Nebraska Association of In order to maintain a year-round ranching County Officials. operation, cattle need to be fed hay during the winter. Wetland areas are capable of After much initial distrust between the producing much of this hay. To allow its landowners and agency representatives, cutting, ranchers drained many wetlands, participants discovered commonalities starting in the early 1900s. As the between landowner and wildlife needs. wetlands were drained, their buffering Subsequently, the Task Force has function was lost. Water that used to be developed into a team of people who trust absorbed by wetlands ended up in and respect each other, and who make streams. As a result, stream bed erosion decisions by consensus. The Task Force accelerated and the ground water table generated a Management Plan, lowered. This has led to a subsequent thinning of vegetation, and, in turn, to a higher susceptibility to soil erosion. ____________ 189 Ecosystem Management in the United States: An Assessment of Current Experience NEBRASKA SANDHILLS ECOSYSTEM -- continued which, after incorporation of public Management Plan states that land project has been invaluable. comments, was signed in acquisition would only "be a last Support of elected officials has September 1993. The Plan has alternative to ensure that unique also been beneficial. been implemented since then. The ecosystems will remain." Task Force members decided to re- Obstacles to Progress main active as a group to help carry PRESENT STATUS & Currently, work carried out by out the objectives of the Plan. In OUTLOOK agencies such as the Natural January 1995, Task Force The new management approach Resources Conservation Service, membership was extended to a has already proven fruitful. the Nebraska Game and Parks representative of The Nature Successful projects have been Commission, and the FWS is co- Conservancy. completed throughout the region. ordinated by the Sandhills coord- Not only are wetlands being inator. Unfortunately, the coord- The overall goal of the Plan is "to restored, but the relationship inator does not have any staff, enhance the sandhill wetland- between local landowners and which is sorely needed. Funding is grassland ecosystem in a way that FWS has greatly improved. lacking for additional positions. In sustains profitable private Congressional support was voiced addition, future local opposition is ranching, wildlife and vegetative to the Secretary of the Interior anticipated, for instance, if the diversity, and associated water commending this program. In Task Force should support land supplies." In order to reach that addition, the management plan has acquisition by The Nature goal, a variety of strategies is gained the support of non- Conservancy. employed. Since implementation governmental organizations, Contact information: started, several educational agencies, and governor. This has projects have been organized, e.g., encouraged others to participate. Mr. Gene Mack a two-day work shop concerning Sandhills Coordinator ranching and environmental issues. Factors Facilitating Progress U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Another strategy involves the Open communication and the Kearney Field Office provision of technical assistance to discovery of common ground PO Box 1686 land owners in wetland restoration between landowners and FWS has Kearney, NE 68848 and erosion control. The Plan also greatly benefited the project. The (308) 236-5015 recommends land acquisition or involvement and support of local Fax: (308) 237-3899 land easements if deemed appro- landowners from the onset of the priate. However, the Sandhills ____________ 190.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Scroll Down for Complete Article
    Nebraska History posts materials online for your personal use. Please remember that the contents of Nebraska History are copyrighted by the Nebraska State Historical Society (except for materials credited to other institutions). The NSHS retains its copyrights even to materials it posts on the web. For permission to re-use materials or for photo ordering information, please see: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/magazine/permission.htm Nebraska State Historical Society members receive four issues of Nebraska History and four issues of Nebraska History News annually. For membership information, see: http://nebraskahistory.org/admin/members/index.htm Article Title: Development of Cattle Raising in the Sandhills Full Citation: W D Aeschbacher, “Development of Cattle Raising in the Sandhills,” Nebraska History 28 (1947): 41-64 URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1947CattleSandhills.pdf Date: 5/08/2017 Article Summary: Cattlemen created brands, overseen by stockmen’s associations, in hopes of preventing theft. Railroads attracted settlers, carried cattle to market, and delivered new breeds of stock. Scroll Down for complete article. Cataloging Information: Names: John Bratt, Bartlett Richards, E A Burnett, Thomas Lynch, R M “Bud” Moran Nebraska Place Names: Hyannis, Whitman, Ashby Keywords: brands, acid, the Spade, One Hundred and One, the Bar 7, the Figure 4, Nebraska Stock Growers Association, cattle rustling, roundups, Union Pacific, Burlington and Northern, Texas Longhorns, Shorthorns (Durhams), Hereford, Polled-Angus, John Bratt, E A Burnett Development of Cattle Raising in the Sandhills W. D. Aeschbacher One of the problems encountered by people running cattle on the open range is that of identification and estab­ lishment of ownership.
    [Show full text]
  • Plan for the Roadside Environment - 59
    Nebraska Department of Roads PLAN FOR THE ROADSIDE ENVIRONMENT - 59 - - 60 - Description – Region “D” Environmental Components • Climate ○ Plant hardiness zone - This region is primarily within Zone 4b of the USDA Plant Materials Hardiness Zone Map with a range of annual minimum temperatures between -20 to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. ○ Annual rainfall – Considered semi-arid, participation ranges from 23 inches per year in the east portion of the region to less than 17 inches in the west. • Landform – A fragile sandy rangeland of undulating fields of grass-stabilized sand dunes. Dunes generally align in a northwesterly to southeasterly direction. In the eastern edge, the dunes transition to flat sandy plains with wet meadows and marshes through Rock, Holt, and Wheeler Counties. A distinct lake area exists in the north central portion of the region where the high water table allows nearly 2,000 scattered small shallow lakes. The western end of this Sandhills region contains a second area of small scattered lakes that are moderate to highly alkaline. The alkaline lakes have limited influence from ground water and are in an area referred to as the “closed basin area” generally devoid of streams. • General soil types – Region “D” consists of sand with very little organic matter. These soils are fragile and highly susceptible to wind erosion. Water erosion is of less concern except where water is concentrated in steep ditches. Clay lenses that pond water are found in the western portion of this region. • Hydrology High infiltration rates, up to 10 feet per day, allow rainwater and snowmelt to percolate rapidly downward.
    [Show full text]
  • Nebraska's Niobrara & Sandhills Safari
    Nebraska’s Niobrara & Sandhills Safari With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures May 28 – June 4, 2019 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 866.900.1146 Fax 650.471.7667 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Hidden almost in plain sight, Nebraska has a giant secret-- the spectacular Sandhills. A region with 128 million acres of Tour Highlights sand dunes mostly covered in prairie, sustained by rainfall ✓ Canoe the Niobrara Wild and Scenic and groundwater, then sliced by beautiful rivers. River (including a visit to Smith Falls), and canoe, tube, or tank the Calamus The region has a plethora of hidden treasures that will be River near our lodging the quests of your tour. We will seek out the region’s ✓ Witness herds of Bison and Elk, Black- amazing plants, wildlife, wetlands, rivers and unique tailed Prairie Dog towns, and other features. You will get to meet the conservationists and species on the native prairies at Fort ranch families who care for the rich native prairie Niobrara and Valentine National community that supports them and stabilizes about 20,000 Wildlife Refuges square miles of sand dunes. ✓ Discover the amazing Ashfall Fossil Beds that contain intact, complete We will look into the wetland eyes of the Ogallala Aquifer specimens of horses, camels, rhinos, that peek out from below the dunes, and explore its waters and other fossils in the stunning streams and waterfalls that hide in the ✓ Venture deeper into the sandhills on a valleys.
    [Show full text]
  • NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL MARKERS by COUNTY Nebraska State Historical Society 1500 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508
    NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL MARKERS BY COUNTY Nebraska State Historical Society 1500 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508 Revised April 2005 This was created from the list on the Historical Society Website: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/index.htm County Marker Title Location number Adams Susan O. Hail Grave 3.5 miles west and 2 miles north of Kenesaw #250 Adams Crystal Lake Crystal Lake State Recreation Area, Ayr #379 Adams Naval Ammunition Depot Central Community College, 1.5 miles east of Hastings on U.S. 6 #366 Adams Kingston Cemetery U.S. 281, 2.5 miles northeast of Ayr #324 Adams The Oregon Trail U.S. 6/34, 9 miles west of Hastings #9 Antelope Ponca Trail of Tears - White Buffalo Girl U.S. 275, Neligh Cemetery #138 Antelope The Prairie States Forestry Project 1.5 miles north of Orchard #296 Antelope The Neligh Mills U.S. 275, Neligh Mills State Historic Site, Neligh #120 Boone St. Edward City park, adjacent to Nebr. 39 #398 Boone Logan Fontenelle Nebr. 14, Petersburg City Park #205 Box Butte The Sidney_Black Hills Trail Nebr. 2, 12 miles west of Hemingford. #161 Box Butte Burlington Locomotive 719 Northeast corner of 16th and Box Butte Ave., Alliance #268 Box Butte Hemingford Main Street, Hemingford #192 Box Butte Box Butte Country Jct. U.S. 385/Nebr. 87, ten miles east of Hemingford #146 Box Butte The Alliance Army Air Field Nebr. 2, Airport Road, Alliance #416 Boyd Lewis and Clark Camp Site: Sept 7, 1804 U.S. 281, 4.6 miles north of Spencer #346 Brown Lakeland Sod High School U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Sandhills Ranch Properties
    Blue Creek Facts . Blue Creek Ranch is located on the southwestern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills, and is home to over 3,900 bison. The 85,635-acre ranch is mainly comprised of native sandhills rangeland with the unique feature of being divided on the southern half of the ranch by Blue Creek, a tributary of the North Platte River. Blue Creek is the dividing line between the true sandhills region of Nebraska to the north and the clay soils and hard grass prairie system to the south. Blue Creek History Blue Creek ranch was the site of “The Battle of Blue Water” the first major conflict between the U.S. Military and the Sioux Indians from 1854 to 1856. The US Military was led by General Harney and attacked a band of Sioux Indians led by Little Thunder. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” Blue Creek is also the site of a naturally occurring spring called “Gusher Springs.” Gusher Springs is believed to be the second largest spring in Nebraska with a measured flow of 3,750 gal./min. Holistic Management 1. Profitability 2. Land Stewardship 3. Conservation Efforts 4. Community and Employees Profitability - Bison Bison Facts . Grazed using a rotational and deferred grazing system . Three grazing herds . Main herd - 1,400 breeding females - 100 breeding bulls . Stockers - 450 stocker heifers, 550 stocker bulls . Yearlings - 1,170 weaned calves . Ratio of cows to bulls is 14:1 . Bison have a 285- day gestation and birth weight of about 50 pounds .
    [Show full text]
  • Nebraska Bicycle Map Legend 2 3 3 B 3 I N K C R 5 5 5 6 9 S55a 43 3 to Clarinda
    Nebraska State Park Areas 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Park entry permits required at all State Parks, TO HOT SPRINGS TO PIERRE TO MITCHELL TO MADISON 404 402 382 59 327 389 470 369 55 274 295 268 257 96 237 366 230 417 327 176 122 397 275 409 53 343 78 394 163 358 317 Recreation Areas and State Historical Parks. 100 MI. 83 68 MI. E 23 MI. 32 MI. NC 96 113 462 115 28 73 92 415 131 107 153 151 402 187 40 212 71 162 246 296 99 236 94 418 65 366 166 343 163 85 LIA Park permits are not available at every area. Purchase 18 TO PIERRE AL E 183 47 RIC 35 446 94 126 91 48 447 146 158 215 183 434 219 56 286 37 122 278 328 12 197 12 450 74 398 108 309 119 104 from vendor at local community before entering. 105 MI. D A K O T A T TYPE OF AREA CAMPING SANITARY FACILTIES SHOWERS ELEC. HOOKUPS DUMP STATION TRAILER PADS CABINS PICNIC SHELTERS RIDES TRAIL SWIMMING BOATING BOAT RAMPS FISHING HIKING TRAILS CONCESSION HANDICAP FACILITY 73 T S O U T H A 18 E E T H D A K O T A 18 F-6 B VU 413 69 139 123 24 447 133 159 210 176 435 220 69 282 68 89 279 328 26 164 43 450 87 398 73 276 83 117 S O U 18 471 103°00' 15' 98°30' LLE 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Sandhill Stats Spread of Invasives Like Red Cedar Are Causing Habitat Loss Location: North-Central Nebraska and Fragmentation Throughout the Sandhills
    United States Department of Agriculture SANDHILLS PROJECT A HOSTILE TAKEOVER The Sandhills landscape of Nebraska is speckled with lakes, wetlands, wet meadows, spring-fed streams - and unfortunately - too many eastern red cedar trees. The 19,300-square-mile grass-covered sand dune formation in north-central Nebraska serves as an oasis for wildlife, including the greater prairie-chicken and American burying beetle. The Sandhills are also critically important to waterfowl, Photos by Aaron Price, USDA Price, Aaron by Photos who nest in the region. The conversion of rangelands to cultivated crops and the Sandhill Stats spread of invasives like red cedar are causing habitat loss Location: North-Central Nebraska and fragmentation throughout the Sandhills. To reverse Habitat Type: Grassland, wetlands, wet-meadows the loss and fragmentation of habitat, NRCS is working Target Species: Greater Prairie Chicken and with agricultural producers to install grazing management American Burying Beetle practices to improve rangeland health and wildlife habitat. Other Species: Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Dicksissel, Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Swainson’s Hawk, Monarch LANDOWNERS ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION Butterfly, Upland Sandpiper, Western Meadowlark, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Regal Fritillary Butterfly Landowners in Nebraska are helping restore the Sandhill Partners: Landowners, Sandhills Task Force, landscape by improving the health of rangelands using Nebraska Cattlemen, Rainwater Basin Joint prescribed grazing and removing invading cedar trees. Venture, Nebraska Game and Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pheasants Forever Natural Resources Conservation Service Working Lands for Wildlife SANDHILLS PROJECT Through grazing management, mechanical removal and prescribed burning, producers can manage this threat to the landscape as cedar trees shade out other plants, which degrades the quality of forage for livestock and habitat for wildlife.
    [Show full text]
  • Sioux County
    Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Sioux County Prepared for: Nebraska State Historical Society Prepared by: The Louis Berger Group, Inc. 950 50th Street Marion, Iowa 52302 319-373-3043 www.louisberger.com Cover Designed By: To The Letter Design, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Feature Cover Photo: Aerial historic photograph of Harrison provided by the Nebraska State Historical Society and Archives. August 2005 Acknowledgements The Louis Berger Group, Inc. (Berger) wishes to thank the following organizations and individuals for assisting us with this study: Sioux County Historical Society; Moni Hourt; Morris and Alda Engebretsen; Rollin Curd; Roger West; Keri Hicks, Dennis Prye, and Jay Pyle of the U.S. Forest Service; Paul Hedren with the National Park Service; Jake Wade Wasserburger; Bob Nickel; Rolfe Mandel of the Kansas Geological Society, University of Kansas; Jim Potter, Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron; Bill Callahan and Jill Ebers of the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office; and the staff of the Nebraska State Historical Society Library/Archives. Berger prepared this report for the Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS). Berger Architectural Historians Camilla Deiber and Amy Dixon conducted the county-wide survey and contributed to the report. Berger Historic Archaeologist Christopher Schoen, Field Supervisor Laura Elsinger, and Crew Chief Francis Nix conducted field investigations of the Montrose Fortification and Townsite. The Nebraska Historic Building Survey (NeHBS) program is administered by the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office (NeSHPO) with the cooperation of the Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS). The NeHBS is funded in part with the assistance of a federal grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Projects in the Sandhills of Nebraska
    CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN THE SANDHILLS OF NEBRASKA Chad Christiansen, USFWS Bill Vodehnal, NGPC Ashley Garrelts, STF AGENDA Overview of Sandhills Threats to Sandhills Habitat Restoration Projects Programs & Implementation SANDHILLS Largest Sand-Dune Area In Western Hemisphere Largest Grass Stabilized Dune Region In Northern Great Plains Comparison . 10 Times Larger Than State Of Delaware . 3 Times Larger Than State Of Massachusetts 19,300 SQUARE MILE REGION 265 MILES EAST TO WEST 130 MILES NORTH TO SOUTH SANDHILLS First ranches began 95% grassland in late 1800’s 11.5 million acres 90% private Ranching main ownership industry SANDHILLS HYDROLOGY Ogallala Aquifer . About 1 billion acre feet . 1.3 million acres of of groundwater wetlands . Only place exposed as . 1,500-2,000 lakes surface water SANDHILLS WILDLIFE Reptiles and Amphibians . 27 of 60 species Insect . Monarch Butterfly . American Burying Beetle Mammals . 55 of 95 species Birds . 314 of 404 species . 12 endemic to NE SANDHILLS WILDLIFE Due to its variety of both wetland and grassland habitats, it’s identified as an important geography for numerous avian species . Most significant waterfowl nesting habitat outside of Prairie Pothole region . Nesting habitat for High Plains Flock of Trumpeter Swans . Nesting habitat for ~4 million grassland birds . Sharp-tailed grouse . Greater Prairie Chicken FLAGSHIP SPECIES OF THE PRAIRIE PRAIRIE GROUSE FACTS Area sensitive species requiring large, open expanses of grasslands (75% grassland and 25 % cropland/woody) Home range
    [Show full text]
  • Niobrara River Two Miles Beyond Brewer Bridge Is NEBRASKA GAME and Conner Rapids, Which You Can Hear Before WATER TRAIL PARKS COMMISSION You See
    Niobrara River Two miles beyond Brewer Bridge is NEBRASKA GAME AND Conner Rapids, which you can hear before WATER TRAIL PARKS COMMISSION you see. Stay to the left, then make a sharp PO Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503 right turn and go directly down the middle of 402-471-0641 • www.outdoornebraska.org the river. GENERAL INFORMATION One mile farther is Fritz’s Island. Go left The Niobrara River is scenic throughout its around the island. Going to the right will take 535-mile course from its source in eastern you over a rock ledge. Wyoming and through northern Nebraska to Less than a mile farther is The Chute its mouth at the Missouri River near Niobrara. (Fritz’s Narrows). Stay in the middle for a fun But at Valentine, things are spectacular. ride through choppy water. In 1991 a 76-mile stretch of Niobrara was Another hour, about 3.5 miles down- designated as a National Scenic River deserving stream, is Rocky Ford (Class 3). Stay to the left special protection and recognition. Within this here and portage around the rapids. stretch, now managed by the National Park About two miles below Rocky Ford is Service, the river has carved its way through up Egelhoff’s Rapids (Class 2-3). Stay to the left to 300 feet of earth and below the surface of the and portage again, or you will be surprised by vast Ogallala Aquifer, the primary source of its a large hole in the middle of the river that is flows. Groundwater seeps from banks and disguised until it’s too late to stop.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic History in the Nebraska Sand Hills
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for Spring 2000 Thinking Like a Dune Field: Geologic History in the Nebraska Sand Hills David B. Loope University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] James Swinehart University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch Part of the Other International and Area Studies Commons Loope, David B. and Swinehart, James, "Thinking Like a Dune Field: Geologic History in the Nebraska Sand Hills" (2000). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 486. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/486 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Great Plains Research 10 (Spring 2000): 5-35 O Copyright by the Center for Great Plains Studies FEATURE ARTICLE THINKING LIKE A DUNE FIELD: GEOLOGIC HISTORY IN THE NEBRASKA SAND HILLS David B. Loope Department of Geosciences University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-0340 dloopel @unl.edu and James B. Swinehart Conservation & Survey Division and Department of Geosciences University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-051 7 jswinehartl @unl.edu ABSTRACT-The Nebraska Sand Hills region is a giant dune field that is presently stabilized by prairie vegetation. During numerous se- vere droughts within the last 15,000 years, the dunes have lost their plant cover and have migrated freely.
    [Show full text]
  • Ground-Water Resources of the Lower Niobrara River and Ponca Creek Basins, Nebraska and South Dakota J> THOMAS G
    Ground-Water Resources of the Lower Niobrara River and Ponca Creek Basins, Nebraska and South Dakota j> THOMAS G. NEWPORT I^ith a section on CHEMICAL QUALITY OF THE WATER r> ROBERT A. KRIEGER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1460-G Prepared as part of a program of the Department of the Interior for the development of the i Missouri River Basin ;NITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON . 1959 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. S EATON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Abstract________-_---.__________________---.__-_-___ 273 Introduction-_____________________________________________________ 274 Purpose and scope of investigation_____________________________ 274 Methods of investigation___-___-_____-_-________-____-_-_-____- 275 Well-numbering system....___________________________________ 275 Acknowledgments. ___-_-___-________--_-______ _ _______--_-__ 276 Selected annotated bibliography.________________________________ 277 Geography_____________________________________________________ 281 Location and extent of area_________________________________ 281 Topography and drainage._______________________-_-----___-_-- 281 Climate.._..__________________---__-____--_-_---_-_ 284 Stratigraphic units and their water-yielding properties___.________-_-_ 286 Cretaceous system.. ___________________________________________ 288 Lower Cretaceous
    [Show full text]