DOCSLIB.ORG

Ground-Water Conditions and Geologic Reconnaissance of the Upper Sevier River Basin, Utah

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Ground-Water Conditions and Geologic Reconnaissance of the Upper Sevier River Basin, Utah GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1836 Prepared in cooperation with the Utah State Engineer Ground-Water Conditions . and Geologic Reconnaissance of the Upper Sevier River Basin, Utah By C. H. CARPENTER, G. B. ROBINSON, JR., and L. J. BJORKLUND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1836 Prepared in cooperation with the Utah State Engineer UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1967 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY William T. Pecora, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. OS 67-168 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 CONTENTS Page Abstract___________________________________________________ 1 Introduction....______________________________________________ 2 Purpose and scope of the investigation,________________________ 2 Location and extent of the area_________________________________ 3 Previous work_________________________________________ 3 Personnel and methodsjof investigation_________________________ 5 Acknowledgments. ____________________________________________ 6 Well and spring numbering system_____________________________ 6 Geography_________________________________________________ 7 Physiography. _______________________________.________ 7 Climate._________________________________________________ 9 Vegetation___________________________________________ 10 Population, agriculture, and industry___________________________ 11 Geology. _______________________________________________ 11 Geologic formations and their water-bearing characteristics-______ 12 Mesozoic formations_____________________________________ 12 Cretaceous System_______________________________________ 12 Upper Cretaceous Series______________________________ 12 Cretaceous formations__________________________ 12 Tertiary System_________________________________________ 17 Eocene and Miocene(?) Series____-_-__________________ 17 Wasatch and Brian Head Formations._______________ 17 Miocene(?) and Pliocene(?) Series__________-_--____---_- 20 Volcanic rocks________________________________ 20 Intrusive rocks_________-_-__-__-_____-_-__-__-___- 21 Tertiary or Quaternary Systems_________________________ 21 Upper Pliocene or lower Pleistocene deposits._____________ 21 Sevier River Formation___.___._________ ________ 21 Quaternary System___________________________-_-_____-____ 22 Pleistocene and Recent Serie8____-_________________-____ 22 Basalt.____________________________ 22 Igneous rubble____________________________________ 23 Landslide deposits__________________-_________-__-_ 24 Alluvium. ___ ________________________________ _ 24 Old and young alluvium______________________ 25 Flood-plain deposits____________-_--____-_-__-- 26 Structure_____________________________________________________ 26 Regional dip and folds____-_______________-___-_____-_-____ 26 Faults._________--____-______.___________________ 27 Valley basins____________________________________________ 28 Panguitch Valley basin_________________________________ 28 Circle Valley basin___________________________________ 28 in IV CONTENTS Geology C ontinued Structure Continued Valley basins Continued Page East Fork Valley basin____-_---___-_-_-_-----_-___-_-__ 29 Emery Valley subbasm________-_-_-_____-_-_-_-___- 29 Johns Valley subbasin____--__--___-_-____--_-_-_-_- 29 Antimony subbasin_______-__-____-_____-__________ 30 Grass Valley basin_____________________________________ 30 Koosharem subbasin_____--_-___---_-_-_-_-___-_-__ 30 Angle subbasin___________-_______-_--_____________ 30 Water resources ____________________________________________ _ _____ 31 History of water-resources development-________________________ 31 Surface water.________________________________________________ 31 The Sevier River and its tributaries.__________-___-_-_-_-_-__ 32 Reservoirs,_______________________________________________ 37 Canals and ditches_______________________________________ 37 Gains and losses in streamflow._____________________________ 40 Gro und water _________________________________________________ 42 Source, occurrence, and movement_________________________ 42 Recharge-________________________________________________ 43 Aquifer characteristics_____________________________________ 43 Estimate of recoverable ground water in storage.______________ 44 Fluctuations of water leveL____-_______-_-_-___-_-_____-__ 45 Short-term fluctuations,________________________________ 45 Annual fluctuations-___________________________________ 46 Long-term fluctuations.________________________________ 47 Development and discharge______^_________________________ 47 WeUs_____-_____-__________________-____---_-___-_-_- 48 Springs. _ ___________________________________________ 51 Drains ___________________________-__-_--_--__---__-__ 51 E vapotranspiration_ ___________________________________ 52 Evaporation from surface-water reservoirs.___________ 53 Direct evaporation of ground water__________________ 53 Transpiration,_ ___________________________________ 54 Subsurface outflow,____________________________________ 54 Relation between ground water and streamflow._______________ 55 Inflow-outflow analyses of the ground-water basins_____ _____ 57 Panguitch Valley basin_________________________________ 59 Circle Valley basin___________________________________ 59 East Fork Valley basin_____________________________ 60 Emery Valley subbasin____________________________ 60 Johns Valley subbasiii_____-_-_-_-________--_--__-_- 61 Antimony subbasin________-______-_-_-_-____-_--_- 62 Grass Valley basin____-___-_________________------__-_- 62 Koosharem subbasin_______________________________ 62 Angle subbasin_---_-_-_--__-------------_-_------- 64 Ground-water conditions in the basins._____________________ 64 Panguitch Valley basin____-_-_____-__--_--__-__-------- 64 Circle Valley basin______________________--__-_-__----_- 67 East Fork Valley basin_____________________________ 69 Emery Valley subbasm____-_-__________--__---__-_- 69 Johns Valley subbasin_________-_____-_-_---__-____- 71 Antimony subbasin________________________________ 72 CONTENTS V Water resources Continued Ground water Continued Ground-water conditions in the basins Continued Page Grass Valley basin___________________________________ 74 Koosharem subbasiii_______________________________ 74 Angle subbasin____________________________________ 76 Effects of pumping additional ground water in the upper Sevier River basin.____________________________________________ 77 Quality of water_____________________________________________ 79 Dissolved minerals._______________________________________ 79 Quality in relation to use___________________________________ 79 Irrigation__ _________________________________________ 79 Domestic and public supply___________________________ 81 Livestock__ _________________________________________ 83 Industry___________________________________________ 83 Summary_ _ _ ____________________________________________________ 84 Selected references.________________________________________________ 86 Index__________________________________________________________ 89 ILLUSTRATIONS [Plates are in pocket] PLATE 1. Reconnaissance geologic map and sections of the upper Sevier River basin, Utah. 2. Map showing hydrologic data and phreatophyte areas in the upper Sevier River basin. 3. Graphs of water levels in selected wells and selected anal­ yses of ground and surface water in the upper Sevier River basin. Page FIGURE 1. Location map_________________________________ 4 2. Well and spring numbering system.___________________ 7 3. Hydrographs of selected wells for the period 1938-63 and cumulative departure from the 1931-60 normal annual precipitation at Panguitch___._____.________________ 10 4. Hydrographs of Sevier River flow________-_-_---__--__ 33 5. Graph showing the relation of water level in well (C-32-5) 26aca-l and base flow of Sevier River.______________ 56 6. Graphs showing the relation between dissolved solids and specific conductance of selected surface- and ground- water samples___________________________________ 80 VI CONTENTS TABLES Page TABLE 1. Generalized geologic section in the upper Sevier River basin. ______________-__-__-__---______-___ 13 2. Data for the principal perennial tributaries of the Sevier River, East Fork Sevier River, and Otter Creek___ __ 34 3. Data for the principal surface-water reservoirs in the upper Sevier River basin________-_-_--_-_-___---__-_-_--_ 37 4. Principal canals and ditches that divert water for irriga­ tion from the Sevier River and its tributaries _________ 38 5. Inflow, outflow, and gains of the Sevier River between Hatch and Kingston, in acre-feet, for the water years 1956-62._________________...______.--- 41 6. Range in measured and estimated coefficients of storage and transmissibility in the upper Sevier River basin. _ _ 44 7. Estimated amount of recoverable ground water in storage in the sand and gravel of the upper 200 feet of saturated valley fill in the upper Sevier River basin___________ 45 8. Range and average of specific capacities of wells in the upper Sevier River basin___________________________ 49 9. Use of water, number of wells, and estimated discharge from wells in 1962 in four basins of the upper Sevier River system_________________-_-__-_____-_____-__ 50 10. Estimated discharge and use of water in 1962 from major springs in the upper Sevier River basin_____________
Recommended publications
  • Water Resources Development by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Utah

    Water Resources Development by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Utah

    DEVELOPMENT W&M U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TC SOU TH PACIFIC DIVI SI O N 423 • A15 1977 Utah 1977 M ■ - z//>A ;^7 /WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ec by THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS in UTAH JANUARY 1977 ADDRESS INQUIRIES TO DIVISION ENGINEER U.S. Army Engineer Division South Pacific Corps of Engineers 630 Sansome Street San Fransisco, California 94111 DISTRICT ENGINEER DISTRICT ENGINEER U.S. Army Engineer District U.S. Army Engineer District Los Angeles Corps of Engineers Sacramento Federal Building Corps of Engineers 300 North Los Angeles Street Federal and Courts Building Los Angeles, California 90012 (P.O. Box 2711 650 Capitol Mall Los Angeles, California 90053) Sacramento, California 95814 TO OUR READERS: Throughout history, water has played a dominant role in shaping the destinies of nations and entire civilizations. The early settlement and development of our country occurred along our coasts and water courses. The management of our land and water resources was the catalyst which enabled us to progress from a basically rural and agrarian economy to the urban and industrialized nation we are today. Since the General Survey Act of 1824, the US Army Corps of Engineers has played a vital role in the development and management of our national water resources. At the direction of Presidents and with Congressional authorization and funding, the Corps of Engineers has planned and executed major national programs for navigation, flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, recreation and water conservation which have been responsive to the changing needs and demands of the American people for 152 years.
  • Sensitive Plant Species

    Sensitive Plant Species

    SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES Barneby Woody Aster (Aster kingii var. barnebyana) Barneby’s woody aster is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and it grows from a well-developed taproot. There are persistent blackish or dark brown, old leaf bases at the base of the plant. The stems are short (3-12 cm long) and the herbage is covered with glandular hairs. The leaves are basal, 0.8-12 cm long, and oblanceolate to spatulate in shape with 1-10 pronounced teeth. Flowers occur in clusters of 1-5, standing 8-11 mm high. The inner bracts are often purplish and at least the outer tips are bent backward. The ray flowers are white, often fading to pale pink. This plant flowers between August and September. This species is found in mountain mahogany and oak communities on rock outcrops composed of Precambian quartzite. This endemic species of the Canyon Mountains in Millard and Juab Counties, Utah has been reported in 15 element occurrence records as of 2002 (Madsen 2002). These scattered occurrences indicate a total population of 600+ plants. The range of elevation is between 7,500 and 9640. Major associated species are Holodiscus dumosus (Mountain spray), Huechera rubescens (Red alumroot), Symphoricarpos oreophilus (Mountain snowberry), Quercus gambelii (Gambel’s oak), and Eriogonum brevicaule (Shortstem buckwheat) (Franklin 1990). To date there are 15 known occurrences of this species on the Fillmore Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest (Franklin 1990). Plants are harbored from threats such as livestock grazing by their occurrence on steep rock outcrops. 40 Bicknell milkvetch (Astragalus consobrinus) The Bicknell milkvetch is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae).
  • Itineraries from Panguitch, Utah

    Itineraries from Panguitch, Utah

    Itineraries From Panguitch, Utah Day One: Red Canyon / Casto Canyon / Losee Canyon Explore these three canyons that are all part of the Dixie National Forest. Go east from downtown Panguitch and follow Scenic Highway 89 as it bends south (seven miles) to Scenic Byway 12. Turn east (left) on Scenic Byway 12 toward Bryce Canyon National Park. Just over one mile up the road you’ll encounter a dirt road with signs pointing to the trail-heads for both Casto and Losee Canyons. You may venture to these canyons for hiking, mountain biking, ATV riding, or you may continue straight on Scenic Byway 12 to Red Canyon (.5 miles). Here you’ll find a visitor information center with details on how what to see and do in Red Canyon and the surrounding area. Explore side canyons or venture on the paved path that leads to the top of the canyon. This is ideal for people on foot or on a bicycle. The paved trail follows Scenic Byway 12 as it winds to the east, crossing over ravines, and ascending to the Pansaugunt Plateau. The return walk or ride downhill is easy going and very enjoyable. Upon completion of your chosen activities you may return to Panguitch for dining, shopping and lodging. Panguitch, Utah – Itineraries – www.Panguitch.com 1 Day Two: Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon National Park is actually a series of amphitheaters that run for approximately 20 miles along the eastern rim of the Pansaugunt Plateau. You may venture the full length of this beautifully paved road to the end of the park, stopping at overlooks along the way.
  • In Panguitch Lake and Navajo Lake, Utah, from Scales and Opercular Bones

    In Panguitch Lake and Navajo Lake, Utah, from Scales and Opercular Bones

    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-1954 Age and Growth of the Utah Chub, Gila atraria (Girard), in Panguitch Lake and Navajo Lake, Utah, From Scales and Opercular Bones John M. Neuhold Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons Recommended Citation Neuhold, John M., "Age and Growth of the Utah Chub, Gila atraria (Girard), in Panguitch Lake and Navajo Lake, Utah, From Scales and Opercular Bones" (1954). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 3769. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/3769 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AGE AND GROWTH OF THE UTAH CHUB, Ql1! ATRARIA (GIRARD), IN PANGUITCH LAKE AND NAVAJO LA!E, UTAH, FROM SCALES AND OPERCULAR BONES by John M. Beuhold A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree ot MASTER OF SCIENCE ln Fishery Management UTAH STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE Logan, Utah 1954 ABSTRACT Previous literature indicates the opercular bone as a . useful t ool for the determination of age and growth of fish. The reliability and validity _o f this method is tested for two populations of Utah chub. Age and growth are calculated for 222 Utah chub collected from Panguitch Lake and 212 Utah chub collected from Navajo Lake, southern Utah, in 1952-1953 from both scales and opercular bones.
  • The Science Behind Volcanoes

    The Science Behind Volcanoes

    The Science Behind Volcanoes A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in a planet's surface or crust, which allows hot magma, volcanic ash and gases to escape from the magma chamber below the surface. Volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. A mid-oceanic ridge, for example the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, has examples of volcanoes caused by divergent tectonic plates pulling apart; the Pacific Ring of Fire has examples of volcanoes caused by convergent tectonic plates coming together. By contrast, volcanoes are usually not created where two tectonic plates slide past one another. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust in the interiors of plates, e.g., in the East African Rift, the Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field and the Rio Grande Rift in North America. This type of volcanism falls under the umbrella of "Plate hypothesis" volcanism. Volcanism away from plate boundaries has also been explained as mantle plumes. These so- called "hotspots", for example Hawaii, are postulated to arise from upwelling diapirs with magma from the core–mantle boundary, 3,000 km deep in the Earth. Erupting volcanoes can pose many hazards, not only in the immediate vicinity of the eruption. Volcanic ash can be a threat to aircraft, in particular those with jet engines where ash particles can be melted by the high operating temperature. Large eruptions can affect temperature as ash and droplets of sulfuric acid obscure the sun and cool the Earth's lower atmosphere or troposphere; however, they also absorb heat radiated up from the Earth, thereby warming the stratosphere.
  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Bryce Canyon National Park

    Lees Ferry, Arizona), White (which surround Utah Zion Canyon), Gray and Pink. Most of the Grand Staircase is now contained within the BLM-managed Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. The rocks that give Bryce Canyon its distinctive colors are members of the Claron Formation, a mixed Highlights limestone/sandstone layer, and are also found exposed, with similarly intricate forms, in other nearly locations such as Red Canyon and Cedar Breaks. Erosion: Water is responsible for creating the rock shapes in Bryce Canyon National Park. Rain and melting snow flowing down the Pink Cliffs towards the Paria River form ridges, or fins, which subsequently erode into the spires, pinnacles and other shapes (collectively known as ‘hoodoos’) which are left standing. In time these too erode, and the whole process moves very gradually westwards as more of the cliff is slowly worn away. During the long, cold winters, the cliffs are further weakened by freezing water Bryce Canyon National Park expanding in cracks, resulting in more erosion when the ice Bryce Canyon National Park does not contain one main thaws in spring. canyon, but rather a dozen smaller ravines eroded into the east side of a ridge running approximately north-south at Bryce Canyon Trails: As with most national parks, the best the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southwest Utah. This way to appreciate Bryce Canyon is to explore away from erosion has resulted in thousands of bizarre and fragile rock the main roads. There are various trails both along the rim formations, large and small, in many subtle shades of pink, and down through the formations, but probably the best white, yellow, orange and red, extending in quite a narrow is the Fairyland Loop Trail, an 8 mile, little-used route which band for over 25 miles along the plateau rim.
  • THREE SACRED VALLEYS): an Assessment of Native American Cultural Resources Potentially Affected by Proposed U.S

    THREE SACRED VALLEYS): an Assessment of Native American Cultural Resources Potentially Affected by Proposed U.S

    Paitu Nanasuagaindu Pahonupi (THREE SACRED VALLEYS): An Assessment of Native American Cultural Resources Potentially Affected by Proposed U.S. Air Force Electronic Combat Test Capability Actions and Alternatives at the Utah Test and Training Range Item Type Report Authors Stoffle, Richard W.; Halmo, David; Olmsted, John Publisher Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan Download date 01/10/2021 12:00:11 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/271235 PAITU NANASUAGAINDU PAHONUPI(THREE SACRED VALLEYS): AN ASSESSMENT OF NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL RESOURCES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY PROPOSED U.S. AIR FORCE ELECTRONIC COMBAT TEST CAPABILITY ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES AT THE UTAH TEST AND TRAINING RANGE DRAFT INTERIM REPORT By Richard W. Stoffle David B. Halmo John E. Olmsted Institute for Social Research University of Michigan April 14, 1989 Submitted to: Science Applications International Corporation Las Vegas, Nevada TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Description of Study Area 2 Description of Project 2 Site Specific Assessment 3 Tactical Threat Area 3 Threat Sites and Array 4 Range Maintenance Facilities 4 Programmatic Assessment 5 Airspace and Flight Activities Effects 5 Gapfiller Radar Site 5 Future Programmatic Assessments 5 Commercial Power 5 Fiber -optic Communications Network 5 Project - Related Structures and Activities on DOD lands 5 CHAPTER TWO ETHNOHISTORY OF INVOLVED NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS 7 Ethnic Groups and Territories 7 Overview 7 Gosiutes 9 Pahvants 12 Utes 13 Early Contact, Euroamerican Colonization,
  • Upper Sevier River Community Watershed Project

    Upper Sevier River Community Watershed Project

    Upper Sevier River Community Watershed Project 2002 Annual Report Research Monitoring Demonstrative Restorative Techniques and Adaptive Management The State Division of Environ- Utah State University mental Quality has applied a Partnership Overview researchers and private land stream visualization assessment The Upper Sevier River Community Watershed Project is a collabo- managers have demonstrated process to private land along rative partnership addressing restoration needs, management range and pasture manage- the Sevier River to increase challenges, and research opportunities for rangelands, agricultural ment techniques that can be awareness of stream channel lands, forestlands, and aquatic ecosystems in the Upper Sevier applied to better manage conditions. Watershed. vegetative conditions within the watershed. Mission The Utah State Division of The Upper Sevier Soil Conser- Wildlife Resources and local The mission of the Upper Sevier River Community Watershed Project is organized into four major endeavors: vation District has emphasized land owners on the East Fork of cooperation, coordination and • Research, monitoring and adaptive management the Sevier River have restored collaboration through annual over 9 miles of stream channel • Demonstrating restorative techniques field tours within the watershed to improve fisheries habitat and • Restoration and maintenance of watershed ecosystems and with monthly technical riparian function. • Cooperation, coordination and collaboration advisory committee meetings emphasizing watershed assess- ment and planning goals. Restoration and Maintenance of Watershed Ecosystems Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration Page 2 The Upper Sevier Watershed Utilizing Geographic Information System Utilizing local knowledge of Management Plan continues to (GIS) maps, each watershed has been the watershed conditions, progress utilizing direction found displayed to show its’ major ecological and historical and current in “Ecosystem Analysis at the social features.
  • Documented by Mcdonald and Harbaugh (1988) Was Used for This Sirrulation

    Documented by Mcdonald and Harbaugh (1988) Was Used for This Sirrulation

    srATE OF UTAH DEPAR'IMENI' OF NATURAL RESCURCES Tedmical Publication lb. 102 GROUND-WATER HYrROLCGY OF THE UPPER SE.VIER RIVER BASIN, SClJIH-cENrnAL UTAH, AID SIMULATION OF GROUND-WATER F'I.(W IN THE VALLEY-FILL AlJJIFER IN PAN:lliI'ICH VALLEY By Susan A. 'Ihiros am William C. Brothers Prepared by the Uni ted States Geological Survey in cooperation with the Utah Departnent of Natural Resources Division of water Rights 1993 Page Abstract 1 Introduction ••••••• I Purp:>se arrl soope 3 Methods of investigation . 3 Ackoowledgnents 3 Numberi~ system for hydrologic-data sites •••••••••••••• 3 Description of the study area ................................... 4 Geologic setti~ ........................................... 6 Climate .................................................... 8 vegetation . 9 Iarrluse ................................................... 10 Surface-water hydrology .................................... 10 Ground-water hydrology of oonsolidated rocks 11 Ground-water hydrology of the valley-fill aquifer in Panguitch Valley 13 Recharge 14 seepage fran streams 14 seepage fran caIla.1s ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 15 seepage fran unconsuned irrigation water ••••••••••••••••• 16 Infiltration of precipitation •••••••••••••••••••••••• 22 seepage fran consolidated rock ....................... 22 Movanent 22 Discharge 23 seepage to the Sevier River and canals ••••••••••••••••••• 23 E.Va]?CJtraIlSpiration . 24 Springs 25 wells 25 Slll:::surfare outfl~ •••••••••..•.••••••.•••••••••••••••••.••• 26 Water-level fluctuations 26
  • Factors Affecting Cottonwood Recruitment in Zion National Park

    Factors Affecting Cottonwood Recruitment in Zion National Park

    Factors Affecting Cottonwood Recruitment in Zion National Park Final Report to National Park Service CPCESU, Project number OSU 3 and OSU 4 Cooperative Agreement CA# H1200040002 By William J. Ripple1 and Robert L. Beschta College of Forestry Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (541) 737-3956 Fax: (541) 737-3049 January 29, 2007 1 Corresponding author 1 Factors Affecting Cottonwood Recruitment in Zion National Park Abstract The strength of top-down forces in terrestrial food webs is highly debated as there are few examples illustrating the role of large mammalian carnivores in structuring biotic and abiotic systems. Based on the results of this study we hypothesize that an increase in human visitation within Zion Canyon of Zion National Park ultimately resulted in a catastrophic regime shift through pathways involving trophic cascades and abiotic environmental changes. Increases in human visitors in Zion canyon apparently reduced cougar (Puma concolor) densities, which subsequently led to higher mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) densities, higher browsing intensities and reduced recruitment of riparian cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii), increased bank erosion, and reductions in both terrestrial and aquatic species abundance. These results may have broad implications with regard to our understanding of alternative ecosystem states where large carnivores have been removed or are being recovered. Key Words: predator, cottonwood, deer, stream, biodiversity, Leopold 2 Introduction Humans can have a major role in food web dynamics by displacing or extirpating top predators. Over a half century ago, the iconoclast Aldo Leopold was among the first to argue that elimination of large mammalian predators had strong top-down influences on ecosystems (Leopold et al., 1947).
  • A History of Beaver County, Utah Centennial County History Series

    A History of Beaver County, Utah Centennial County History Series

    A HISTORY OF 'Beaver County Martha Sonntag Bradley UTAH CENTENNIAL COUNTY HISTORY SERIES A HISTORY OF 'Beaver County Martha Sonntag Bradley The settlement of Beaver County began in February 1856 when fifteen families from Parowan moved by wagon thirty miles north to Beaver Valley. The county was created by the Utah legislature on 31 January 1856, a week before the Parowan group set out to make their new home. However, centuries before, prehistoric peoples lived in the area, obtaining obsidian for arrow and spear points from the Mineral Mountains. Later, the area became home to Paiute Indians. Franciscan Friars Dominguez and Escalante passed through the area in October 1776. The Mormon settlement of Beaver devel­ oped at the foot of the Tushar Mountains. In 1859 the community of Minersville was es­ tablished, and residents farmed, raised live­ stock, and mined the lead deposits there. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century the Mineral Mountains and other locations in the county saw extensive mining develop­ ment, particularly in the towns of Frisco and Newhouse. Mining activities were given a boost with the completion of the Utah South­ ern Railroad to Milford in 1880. The birth­ place of both famous western outlaw Butch Cassidy and inventor of television Philo T. Farnsworth, Beaver County is rich in history, historic buildings, and mineral treasures. ISBN: 0-913738-17-4 A HISTORY OF 'Beaver County A HISTORY OF Beaver County Martha Sonntag Bradley 1999 Utah State Historical Society Beaver County Commission Copyright © 1999 by Beaver County Commission All rights reserved ISBN 0-913738-17-4 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 98-61325 Map by Automated Geographic Reference Center—State of Utah Printed in the United States of America Utah State Historical Society 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-1182 Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii GENERAL INTRODUCTION ix CHAPTER 1 Beaver County: The Places That Shape Us .
  • The Geography of Wildfire

    The Geography of Wildfire

    Page 14 ZANE GREY EXPLORER AUGUST 2017 The Geography of Wildfire by Dr. Kevin Blake, Professor Emeritus of Geogrophy Kansas State U niversitY STfrR7- The geography of Wildfire ) 6rytz (1917\ is among the most sig- a, C"n.7on -, N nificant in all of Zane Grey's el Ct ,|r F wrld. western romances. lt weaves t/ l-'lors e _ -o1 I l4\. \' L lAeso together four places that 14,. fK.; por.*lls t) ' 'Pl*tequ) shaped Grey's vision of the West more than any oth- !; P /+) t\ er prior to 1917: Lees Ferry (Grey's fictional name is 1^1 Ko"oL Bostil's Ford), the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, a ;,t u lo is the I and Wild Horse Mesa. Most importantly, this I menf v 3 €-7* book that launched Monument Valley to worldwide t t{ t:: I fame and thus greatly shaped the image of the Fr rd , ril { American West (Blake, 1995; Harvey, 2OLt). o *T"h;s ;: wh"r. , ln this article, I explain the geography of Wildfire by t 7*e flrc-'| s€'-'s /t ljri\'1 0 9, Aoc,umenf following the chronology of the book from Lees Ferry a-f. in a;tlqli*.;.,;"1- (Y _\i ;* iryated to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and finally \ 2( O, 6Lopr oximale i" .65 mlles +o rlne is a story about a wild rP"wcll I I *si - Wild Horse Mesa. Though this I Piaiedu ? rprileqs*. greatest I horse named Wildfire, and is one of Grey's I I Tui.&1} I oo I a horse stories along with Riders of the Purple Soge 4 J 4.