DOCSLIB.ORG

Ecosystems of the East Slope of the Front Range in Colorado*

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ecosystems of the East Slope of the Front Range in Colorado* ECOSYSTEMS OF THE EAST SLOPE OF THE FRONT RANGE IN COLORADO* BY JOHN W. MARR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF ARCTIC AND ALPINE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES Series in Biology No. 8 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO PRESS BOULDER, COLORADO, NOVEMBER, 1961 Price $2.50 * Contribution from the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES Editor: KARL K. HULLEY Editorial Board: FLOYD K. BASKETTE, ROBERT E. GSEGG, CLAY P. MALICE, PAUL V. THOMPSON, HAROLD F. WALTON Numbers of the UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES are issued from time to time as suitable contributions are received from members of the Faculty, preference being given to articles which may be (1) too long for publication in the usual journals, (2) not quite suited to any other journal, or (3) concerned especially with Colorado. Established as an outlet for such materials as are mentioned above, the Studies was first published in January, 1902. Since that time, two changes have been made for the purpose of unifying the content of the several issues, the first having been effected in the academic year 1938-1939, when the Studies was divided into four series, three of which were limited to articles in some broad field of knowledge — humanities, social studies, and physical and biological sciences. The second change was made in the aca- demic year 1947-1948, when the series were revised so as to limit each one to a particular field, as indicated in the list on the fourth page of the cover of this number. It is requested that all exchanges be addressed to Serials Division, University of Colorado Libraries, Boulder, Colorado — not to the Editor. Educational institutions, libraries, and societies desiring to be placed on the exchange list should make request to the Editor of University Oj Colorado Studies, Boulder, Colorado. Business communications also shoulo be sent to the Editor. CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. THE UNIT OF STUDY AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS 6 III. THE PROGRAM OF INTENSIVE FIELD STUDIES 12 A. Selection of Stands 12 B. Environment Measurements 12 1. Status of Knowledge of Mountain Environment 12 2. Factors to be Measured 14 3. Instrumentation 14 4. Methods and Procedures 15 5. Preparation of Summaries 16 C. Study of Vegetation 17 IV. REGIONAL FEATURES OF THE FRONT RANGE 19 A. Geography and Geology 19 B. Climate and Weather 20 C. Vegetation 21 D. Regional Ecosystems 23 V. THE CLIMAX REGIONS AND STANDS 25 A. The Lower Montane Forest Climax Region 25 1. Regional Characteristics 25 2. The Major Stand-Types 28 a. Ponderosa Pine Stand Complex 28 b. Douglasfir-Ponderosa Pine Stand Complex 35 c. Douglasfir Stand-Type 37 d. Grassland Complex 37 e. Valley Floor Stand-Types 37 B. The Upper Montane Forest Climax Region 39 1. Regional Characteristics 39 2. The Major Stand-Types 41 a. Douglasfir-Ponderosa Pine Complex 41 b. Ponderosa Pine-Douglasfir Stand-Type 47 c. Douglasfir Stand-Type 48 d. Ponderosa Pine Stand Complex 50 e. Limber Pine Stand-Type 50 f. Aspen Stand Complex 50 g. Lodgepole Pine Stand-Type 51 h. Valley-Floor Stand-Types 51 i ii UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES C. The Subalpine Forest Climax Region 53 1. Regional Characteristics 53 2. The Major Stand-Types 56 a. Spruce-Fir Stand-Type 56 b. Lodgepole Pine Stand-Type 58 c. Aspen Stand-Type 65 d. Limber Pine Stand-Type 69 e. Willow-Birch Stand-Type 74 f. Wet Sedge-Grass Meadow Complex 74 g. Dry Subalpine Meadow Stand-Type 75 D. The Alpine Tundra Climax Region 75 1. Regional Characteristics 75 2. The Major Stand-Types 81 a. Kobresia Meadow Stand-Type 83 b. Hair grass Stand-Type 86 c. Parry's Clover Meadow Stand-Type 88 d. Adoneus Buttercup Stand-Type 90 e. Snowbank Complex 92 f. Cushion Plant Stand-Type 92 g. Dryas Stand-Type 92 h. Sedge-Grass Wet Meadow Stand-Type 93 i. Willow-Sedge Hummock Stand-Type 94 j. Tundra Valley Stands 95 VI. SUMMARY 101 LITERATURE CITED 104 APPENDIX I. LIST OF PLANT SPECIES 110 APPENDIX II. SUMMARIES OF ENVIRONMENT DATA 119 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS FRONTISPIECE. Aerial View of the East Slope of the Front Range vi PLATE 1. A. Environment-Measurement Station 96 B. Montane Landscape 96 PLATE 2. A. Ponderosa Pine Stand 97 B. Douglasfir-Ponderosa Pine Stand 97 PLATE 3. A. Aspen Stand 98 B. Spruce-Fir Stand 98 PLATE 4. Patterned Ground in Alpine Tundra on Niwot Ridge 99 PLATE 5. A. Kobresia Meadow Stand in Early Fall 100 B. Kobresia Meadow Stand in Winter 100 iii LIST OF TABLES 1. Regional Ecosystems on the East Slope of the Front Range 24 2. Lower Montane Soils Data 26 3. A-l Ponderosa Pine Stand Vegetation Data 30 4. A-3 Ponderosa Pine Stand Vegetation Data 32 5. Comparison of Four Stands in the Lower Montane Climax Region.. 34 6. A-2 Douglasfir-Ponderosa Pine Stand Vegetation Data 36 7. Upper Montane Soils Data 40 8. B-l Douglasfir-Ponderosa Pine Stand Vegetation Data 43 9. Comparison of Four Climax Regions 45 10. B-2 Douglasfir-Ponderosa Pine Stand Vegetation Data 46 11. Comparison of Four Stands in the Upper Montane Climax Region.. 47 12. B-3 Ponderosa Pine-Douglasfir Stand Vegetation Data 49 13. Subalpine Soils Data 54 14. Silver Lake Spruce-Fir Stand Vegetation Data 58 15. C-1C Lodgepole Pine Stand Vegetation Data 60 16. C-3A Lodgepole Pine Stand Vegetation Data 62 17. Comparison of Stands in the Subalpine Climax Region 63 18. C-2A Lodgepole Pine Stand Vegetation Data 64 19. C-1D Aspen Stand Vegetation Data 68 20. C-3B Aspen Stand Vegetation Data 70 21. C-2B Aspen Stand Vegetation Data 71 22. C-lA Limber Pine Stand Vegetation Data 72 23. C-1B Limber Pine Stand Vegetation Data 73 24. Alpine Soils Data 78 25. D-lA Kobresia Meadow Stand Vegetation Data 85 26. D-2A Kobresia Meadow Stand Vegetation Data 87 27. Comparison of Four Stands in the Alpine Climax Region 88 28. D-1B Parry's Clover Stand Vegetation Data 90 29. D-3A Adoneus Buttercup Stand Vegetation Data 91 30. D-1C Cushion Plant Stand Vegetation Data 93 LIST OF FIGURES 1. East Slope of the Front Range in Boulder County, Colorado 2 iv Pholoyrayh by Floyd Walters Aerial view of the east slope of the Front Range and the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. Natural vegetation of campus is grassland. Snow-covered landscape is mostly above upper treelimit. ECOSYSTEMS OF THE EAST SLOPE OF THE FRONT RANGE IN COLORADO I. INTRODUCTION A distant summer view of the East Slope of the Front Range in northern Colorado shows a dark band of coniferous forest limited by lighter-colored landscapes of grassland below and tundraland above (Fig. 1 and Frontispiece). Each of the three contrasting areas appears to be homogeneous, and the borders between them appear sharp. A closer view, however, reveals great diversity within each area and borders that are poorly defined. Herbaceous communities and stands of deciduous aspen trees occur scattered through the prevailing evergreen forest, and the species of dominant evergreen changes from one site to another; fingers of forest and isolated stands of trees pene- trate the tundra and grass landscapes for varying distances and become pro- gressively less common until they disappear entirely. This landscape, then, actually is broken up into a myriad of small units, most of which are repeated from place to place in an intricate, changing pattern, and the major areas gradually merge into one another. Description and explanation of this land- scape pattern, processes which require identification, characterization and classification of the units which make it up, present a challenge to ecologists. Partial explanation for the diversity of this landscape is evident after only brief acquaintance. It is general knowledge that mountain slopes rising a mile in altitude intersect different types of climate. Along one contour at any given altitude many features cause diversity: changes in topography produce differences in exposure to sun and wind; variations in soil parent material and topographic situation result in differences in texture, depth, and water content of soils; fires have burned small and large areas, sometimes repeatedly; miners, lumbermen, even farmers, along with sheep and cattle, have left few square feet unmodified by their activities. Adding details and quantitative features to this general picture of mountain ecology is a much more tedious process, and progress has been slow. Meas- urements of environment factors in the high mountains were made as early as 1874 by the U. S. Army Signal Corps on the top of Pike's Peak. In the early part of this century, while ecology was just taking form in America, many of the young ecologists were attracted to the Front Range. C. S. Cran- dall published an analysis of lodgepole pine succession in 1897; William S. Cooper began his pioneer work on alpine ecology in 1904; Robert T. Young measured temperature and humidity for brief intervals at Boulder and at timberline on Arapahoe Peak in 1905; F. E. Clements applied his dynamic 1 to Climax Regions Subalpine Montane Lower Montane a < < w fd CO J Boulder HH H «! O a o e o >S) !Neder!and> o o CO H a t-eH s - LEGEND- CO Contour Interval 500 Feet Science Lodge SL Scale In miles Road I Location of ridge top and slope stands — • Location of valley stands X map by r.e.f. FIG. 1. East Slope of the Front Range in Boulder County, Colorado ECOSYSTEMS 3 concepts to study of lodgepole pine succession after fires in 1910; Francis Ramaley published landscape classifications, measured environment factors (as early as 1910), studied a variety of community types, and stimulated and supervised many graduate students in field ecology; A.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Next Stop Winter Park
    next stop 6 As the valley 3 Approaching the widens, the small Front Range, the w i n ter pa r k community of Tolland railroad utilizes a pair of comes into view. To curves, known as Big the north, the Tolland and Little Ten curves, school house, built to add elevation. The in 1902, served the name comes from the small mining towns in the area. Higher on curvature which, at 10 the mountain side you may be able to spot degrees, is a tight curve for the railraod. Looking horizontal breaks in the trees. This is the old to the north, the wind turbines are near the site railroad grade, known as Rollins Pass, which of the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons Final Destination: Winter Park Resort! Not 8 snaked up the mountian side, up over the facility. a skier? Not to worry! Winter Park has a little Continental Divide, and down to Winter Park. something for everyone! Explore the Winter Park 2 North of the railyards, Village or use the free Lift bus service to explore 5 At Rollinsville the train enters an open valley the railroad turns west Fraser and Granby. Explore everything that the where it parallels South Boulder Creek as it and and rolls through Winter Park Area has to offer! nears the Continental Divide. suburban Arvada where Pgr oss da m the constant 2% uphill grade to the Moffat Tunnel fra ser tolla nd 5 begins. You may notice railroad track splitting off 6 Ptunnel district winter 7 rollinsville to the south. This is the BNSF track connection pa r k 8 to the Coors Brewery in Golden and the RTD resort moffat tunnel 4 G-line commuter rail connection to Wheat Ridge and Old Town 3 If you are skiing or Arvada.
    [Show full text]
  • COLORADO CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION VISIT COLORADO! Day & Overnight Hikes on the Continental Divide Trail
    CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL DAY & OVERNIGHT HIKES: COLORADO CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION VISIT COLORADO! Day & Overnight Hikes on the Continental Divide Trail THE CENTENNIAL STATE The Colorado Rockies are the quintessential CDT experience! The CDT traverses 800 miles of these majestic and challenging peaks dotted with abandoned homesteads and ghost towns, and crosses the ancestral lands of the Ute, Eastern Shoshone, and Cheyenne peoples. The CDT winds through some of Colorado’s most incredible landscapes: the spectacular alpine tundra of the South San Juan, Weminuche, and La Garita Wildernesses where the CDT remains at or above 11,000 feet for nearly 70 miles; remnants of the late 1800’s ghost town of Hancock that served the Alpine Tunnel; the awe-inspiring Collegiate Peaks near Leadville, the highest incorporated city in America; geologic oddities like The Window, Knife Edge, and Devil’s Thumb; the towering 14,270 foot Grays Peak – the highest point on the CDT; Rocky Mountain National Park with its rugged snow-capped skyline; the remote Never Summer Wilderness; and the broad valleys and numerous glacial lakes and cirques of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. You might also encounter moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots, and pika on the CDT in Colorado. In this guide, you’ll find Colorado’s best day and overnight hikes on the CDT, organized south to north. ELEVATION: The average elevation of the CDT in Colorado is 10,978 ft, and all of the hikes listed in this guide begin at elevations above 8,000 ft. Remember to bring plenty of water, sun protection, and extra food, and know that a hike at elevation will likely be more challenging than the same distance hike at sea level.
    [Show full text]
  • James Peak Wilderness Lakes
    James Peak Wilderness Lakes FISH SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT DATA Benjamin Swigle - Aquatic Biologist (Fort Collins/Boulder) [email protected] / 970-472-4364 General Information: The James Peak Wilderness encompasses 17,000 acres on the east side of the Continental Divide in Boulder, Gilpin, and Clear Creek Counties of Colorado. There is approximately 20 miles of trail. The area's elevation ranges from 9,200 to 13,294 feet. Stocking the lakes is primarily completed by CPW pilots that deliver 1 inch native cutthroat trout. Location: Nearby Towns: Nederland, Rollinsville, Tolland, Winter Park. Recreational Management: United States Forest Service Purchase a fishing license: https://www.co.wildlifelicense.com/start.php Fishery Management: Coldwater angling Amenities Sportfishing Notes Previous Stocking High Mountain Hiking 2014 Cutthroat Camping sites available Native Cutthroat Trout Following ice off, trout enter a Backcountry camping 2-3 month feeding frenzy to available with permit June 1 – 2012 fuel themselves over long September 15. Native Cutthroat Trout winters. Consult a quality map for Scuds make up a large portion further information. 2010 of their diet. Primitive restrooms at some Native Cutthroat Trout Fly anglers and spinning rigs trailheads generally offer equal success. 2008 Regulations Native Cutthroat Trout Brook Trout Possession or use of live fish In some James Peak for bait is not permitted. 2006 Wilderness Lakes brook trout Statewide bag/possession Native Cutthroat Trout severely outcompete native limits apply (see
    [Show full text]
  • LOCOPIX Eugene M
    LOCOPIX Eugene M. Lewis February 24, 2010 DMM DANSVILLE AND MOUNT MORRIS DMM 9 4- 6- 0 1937 DANSVILLE NY GORD65 140 DMM 304 2- 8- 0 GORD65 141 DMM 304 2- 8- 0 DANSVILLE NY GORD65 143 DMM 304 2- 8- 0 1953 DANSVILLE NY GORD65 141 DMM 304 2- 8- 0 1956 NY TR17-02 27 DMM 304 2- 8- 0 1956 NY RM 73-5 40 DMM 565 2- 6- 0 NY TR21-01 10 DMM 565 2- 6- 0 CUMMINSVILLE NY GORD65 140 DMM 565 2- 6- 0 1951 GROVELAND NY GORD65 143 DMM 565 2- 6- 0 1956 NY TR17-02 26 DW DANVILLE AND WESTERN ("Dick and Willie") DW 22 4- 6- 0 5-19-1940 DANVILLE VA LQ 9-4 68 DMSW DANVILLE, MOCKSVILLE AND SOUTHWESTERN DMSW 1 2- 6- 0 NG HILT90 542 DR DARDANELLE AND RUSSELLVILLE DR 4 2- 6- 2 8- -1994 NORTH DARDANELLE AR C TR54-12 44 DR 7 0- 4- 4T 1894 NORTH DARDANELLE AR TR53-04 61 DR 8 4- 4- 0 1-22-1992 WABUSKA NV C TR52-05 11 DR 8 4- 4- 0 7- 4-1996 CARSON CITY NV C TR56-10 30 DR 9 2- 6- 0 NORTH FREEDOM WI HUX90 19 DR 9 2- 6- 0 NORTH FREEDOM WI HUX90 21 DR 9 2- 6- 0 NORTH FREEDOM WI ZIEL67 190 DR 9 2- 6- 0 LARUE WI TR36-07 18 DR 9 2- 6- 0 LARUE WI HUX89 190 DR 9 2- 6- 0 1956 NORTH DARDANELLE AR C TR53-04 91 DR 9 2- 6- 0 1964 LARUE WI TR25-08 38 DR 9 2- 6- 0 1969 NORTH FREEDOM WI C TR59-01 10 DR 9 2- 6- 0 7- -1969 LARUE WI TR30-10 49 DR 9 2- 6- 0 10- 4-1970 NORTH FREEDOM WI C CT 8-1 37 DR 10 2- 6- 0 7-16-1948 RUSSELLVILLE AR LQ 27-3 63 DR 10 2- 6- 0 1956 NORTH DARDANELLE AR C TR53-04 91 DR 11 4- 6- 0 DARDANELLE AR COLLI72 90 DOS DARDANELLE, OLA AND SOUTHERN (Mt.Nebo Route) DOS 2 4- 6- 0 12-10-1907 DARDANELLE AR TR 7-10 61 DCC DARLINGTON CANAL COAL RAILROAD DCC ECONOMY 0- 6- 0 PA
    [Show full text]
  • USFS Region 2 Offices 740 Simms Golden CO RE: Rollins Pass Road Followup Dear Sirs;
    March 13, 2014 USFS Region 2 Offices 740 Simms Golden CO RE: Rollins Pass Road followup Dear Sirs; The Organizations above are contacting you regarding the restoration and reopening of the Rollins Pass Road in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapahoe/Roosevelt National Forest and its status following the Boulder County Commissioners public meeting on this issue that occurred on February 13, 2014. This meeting was personally attended by County Commissioners from Gilpin and Grand Counties and approximately 300 or more members of the public. Testimony that was received from the public was overwhelmingly in favor of reopening the Rollins Pass Road and was received from a wide range of interest groups including Historical societies, local governments, local businesses, the motorized community, sportsman and railroad interests. Often the public displayed high levels of frustration regarding factual inaccuracies in presentations and positions taken by Boulder County and USFS representatives. Many comments were made that the issue appeared to have moved further away from resolution than ever before. Prior to addressing the specific concerns regarding the importance of the Rollins Pass Road area, a brief summary of each Organization is needed. The Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition ("COHVCO") is a grassroots advocacy organization of approximately 150,000 registered OHV users in Colorado seeking to represent, assist, educate, and empower all OHV recreationists in the protection and promotion of off-highway motorized recreation throughout Colorado. COHVCO is an environmental organization that advocates and promotes the responsible use and conservation of our public lands and natural resources to preserve their aesthetic and recreational qualities for future generations.
    [Show full text]
  • Fsm91 058053.Pdf
    PURPOSE The purposes of ths appendix are to 1) complement information contamed on the evaluation described in Chapter Three, Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences, Roadless Areas, 2) provide a summary of the evaluahon for each roadless area (RA), and 3) provide information on the Roadless Area Review and Evaluahon of 1979 (RARE n) INTRODUCTION Chapter Three provides 1 a legal framework for the RA analysis and evaluation, 2. a descripaon of the process, 3 a table of the RAs analyzed, 4 a table of the evaluation of each RA, and 5. the environmental consequences of the management area allocahons by alternative, based on the Need Assessment analysis. This appendix provides 1 a table of the RAs analyzed for reference, 2 the guidelines used by the Ranger Districts to evaluate roadless areas and determinahons for recommendations for designation, 3 the guidelines used for the detaled analysis and narrative for each RA, 4 the narrative for the James Peak RA, as an example, 5 summary tables of the detaled narratives for each RA, 6 the management area allocations by altemahve for all RAs, and 7 a summary of the RAs considered in the RARE 11 analysis. The detaded narrauves for the individual RAs are part of the Admnistrative Record. ROADLESS AREAS ANALYZED The Revision evaluates 330,230 acres in 38 Roadless Areas (RA), 34 percent of the non- wilderness Forest, for possible recommendations to Congress for designation, as shown below Appendax C I Inventory and Evaluation of Roadless Areas Table C.l Roadless Areas Evaluated in the Revision.
    [Show full text]
  • Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Act
    March 18, 2018 Senator Michael Bennett Congressman Jared Polis Att: John Whitney Att: Nissa Ericson 835 East 2nd Ave, Suite 206 PO Box 1453 Durango, CO 81301 Frisco, CO 80443 Re: Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Act Dear Senator Bennett and Congressman Polis; Please accept this correspondence as the comments of the above referenced Organizations vigorously opposing the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Act hereinafter referred to as "the Proposal". After a detailed review of the proposal, the Organizations have concluded that every area expanded or created in the Proposal would result in significant lost recreational opportunities for the overwhelming portion of visitors to the Proposal area, both currently and in the future. While there are significant lost opportunities there is also no additional protections for multiple use routes that might remain outside the Wilderness areas and no new areas are designated for OHV recreation. Additionally, frustrating these efforts is the fact that previous commitments made in previous Wilderness legislation in Congressman Polis office remain unfulfilled. The Organizations also still fail to understand the management concerns or perceived threats that are driving the discussion around the need for additional protection of these areas. The Organizations have been visiting with your Office staff attempting to find some type of consensus position that we could support around these areas, but it appears those discussions have not been fruitful, as this version of the Proposal is the worst version of the Proposal the Organizations have seen in a long time. This is highly frustrating as the Organizations were actively involved in the development of the Hermosa Watershed Legislation where large and diverse community support was developed around the Hermosa Legislation and a wide range of protections for a diverse group of users was achieved.
    [Show full text]
  • Junior Ranger California-Zephyr
    Trails & Rails Program National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior W^ .^Junior Ranger r 'A ^fornlatZei^yJ 'V» 52 JwitotMHJ Wmwt}t\J0\mhjj3^ BECOMIN G A JUNIOR RANGER Welcome aboard the California Zephyr train! You are about to embark on the journey of becoming a National Park Service Junior Ranger. As a Junior Ranger, your mission is to: EXPLORE: You will see a lot of exciting and important landmarks during your trip today. Be on the lookout for opportunities to explore the train and what you are seeing outside of the train! LEARN: Find out how much you can learn during your trip by completing activities in this booklet, but your journey does not end here! Junior Ranger programs are offered aboard many Amtrak trains and in most of the 417 National Park Service units across the United States of America. PROTECT: Did you know that riding on a train is better for the Earth than driving a car? One of the jobs of a National Park Service Ranger is to protect the land and animals in our country. By riding on this train and learning about the land and wildlife, you too are helping protect our environment and country. WHAT'S NEXT? There are many activities located within this booklet to help you learn more about the train you are on and the environments that you are traveling through. Wherever you see this symbol — there is an activity for you to try! Try to complete as many activities as you can! When you complete the same number of activities as your age, take this book to one of the Trails & Rails Guides in the lounge car of the train that you are on.
    [Show full text]
  • Climatography of the Front Range Urban Corridor and Vicinity, Colorado
    CLIMATOCRAPHY OF THE Front Range Urban Corridor AND VICINITY, COLORADO - GEOtOClCAL SURVEY ROFESSIOSlAt PAPER 10S5 CLIMATOGRAPHY OF THE FRONT RANGE URBAN CORRIDOR AND VICINITY, COLORADO A graphical summary of climatic conditions in a region of varied physiography and rapid urbanization GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1019 By WALLACE R. HANSEN, JOHN CHRONIC, and JOHN MATELOCK UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1978 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY H. William Menard, Director First Printing 1978 Second Printing 1979 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Hansen, Wallace R. Climatography of the front range urban corridor and vicinity, Colorado. (Geological Survey Professional Paper 1019) Bibliography: p. 59 Supt.ofDocs.no.: I 19.16:1019 1. Front Range, Colo. and Wyo. Climate. I. Chronic, Byron John, joint author. II. Matelock, John, joint author. HI. Title. IV. Series: United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 1019. QC984.C7H42 551.6V788 77-608092 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock No. 024-001-03025-0 CONTENTS Introduction ................................................. 1 Why climatography? ..................................... 1 Acknowledgments ....................................... 1 Physical setting and its effect on the local climate ........... 2 The Front Range ..................................... 5 The Colorado Piedmont............................... 6 Middle
    [Show full text]
  • Archaeological Investigations of Three Game Drive Sites Near
    THESIS COMMUNAL HUNTING IN THE COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THREE GAME DRIVE SITES NEAR ROLLINS PASS, GRAND COUNTY, COLORADO Submitted by Aaron M. Whittenburg Department of Anthropology In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Fall 2017 Masters Committee Advisor: Jason M. LaBelle Mary Van Buren Randall Boone Copyright by Aaron M. Whittenburg 2017 All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT COMMUNAL HUNTING IN THE COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THREE GAME DRIVE SITES NEAR ROLLINS PASS, GRAND COUNTY, COLORADO The pioneering efforts of James Benedict and Byron Olson demonstrated the importance of alpine communal game drives in the lives of prehistoric Native American populations living in northern Colorado. Their research resulted in numerous books and journal publications on alpine and sub-alpine sites from Rocky Mountain National Park southward to the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Unfortunately, their meticulous work on the spectacular sites at Rollins Pass remained unpublished. This thesis presents their data and additional data collected by the author, Jason LaBelle, and the Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology at Colorado State University. This thesis is an archaeological investigation of three alpine game drive sites (5GA35, 5GA36, and 5GA37) and a nearby lithic scatter (5GA4268). As of September 2015, 80 hunting blinds, 1,935 meters of walls, and 15 cairns and two additional cairn lines have been recorded between the three game drives. Diagnostic projectile points demonstrate Late Archaic through Late Prehistoric use. The chipped stone debitage assemblage is representative of late-stage production or maintenance of stone tools and only a limited amount of initial reduction occurred on-site.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Don’T Get Stuck
    Map Side - 85.5 cm x 57.1 cm Equal accordion folds across Keep Your Wheels Where They Belong ® Going around obstacles widens trails, impacts vegetation and causes erosion. Challenge yourself by staying on the trail. Use caution when going over obstacles and remember to be courteous to other trail users. Get Dirty No Shortcuts Go straight through mud puddles Switchbacks are designed to while maintaining a steady speed. maintain the stability of a trail, OHV Opportunities in Colorado Don’t get stuck. cutting them destroys their integrity. This map was designed to show general locations of OHV recreation sites in Colorado. More detailed information including maps, photos, trail descriptions, and GPS tracks are available at staythetrail.org/maps. For specifi c directions to the sites, please contact the land management agencies listed on the back of this map. staythetrail.org Rock N Roll Stay In Line Rocks are natural obstacles and Riding single fi le on tight, narrow part of the off-road experience. Go trails will avoid braiding and trail over them, not around. widening. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge 32 287 34 8 Get Over It Stay On Course 31 71 127 Rawah 1 138 Routt National Forest 33 385 The challenge is going over the tree. Stream crossings should be made Wilderness Pawnee National Grassland Mount Zirkel Walden 2 3 If the tree is too big, go back and by crossing them directly at 90 13 Wilderness 14 contact the land manager. degrees and staying on the trail. Colorado State Forest Cache La Poudre Wilderness 85 State Park Sterling Roosevelt National 14 Holyoke 66 Forest 4 Fort Collins 36 Comanche Peak Dinosaur Craig Steamboat Wilderness 5 6 Whoop It Up Be Sensitive National Monument Springs Neota 40 Wilderness 7 25 35 14 Go over the whoops (bumps on Wetlands are important and Loveland Greeley trails created by constant use).
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter-299-Aug1984
    Rocky. Mountain*s RAIL HIMJRT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CLUB August, 1984........................................ No. 299 MEETING SCHEDULE: « Club Telephone...................... (303) 431-4354 August 14, 1984 -- 7:45 p.m. P. 0. Box 2391.... Denver, Colorado 80201 Southeast wing of Christ Episcopal Church, CURRENT NEWS AND HISTORICAL NOTES OF ROCKY 2900 South University at Bates. Off-street MOUNTAIN RAILROADING PUBLISHED MONTHLY FOR parking at rear (east) of meeting hall. ITS MEMBERS BY THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD Please use the building's south enterance. CLUB. Jim Trowbridge...................................... Editor AUGUST 14 PROGRAM Les Grenz............................ Associate Editor Darrell Arndt.................................. President Don't miss this one!!! The August program Erwin Chaim......................... Vice President will be presented by Bob Griswold and Jack Bill Gordon...................................... Secretary Thode, featuring a collection of glass Ardie Schoeninger.......................... Treasurer slides made during the construction of the Moffat Tunnel. The slides are from the col­ Send all items for publication to: Rocky lection of the late Clifford Betts, who was Mountain Rail Report; Jim Trowbridge, office engineer for the Moffat Tunnel Editor; 502 South Cody Street, Lakewood, Commissi on.from 1923 to 1928. The slides Colorado 80226. will be shown from a reconditioned Bausch and Lomb projector that was used prior to COPY DEADLINE -- All copy for publication the advent of the 35mm color slides some is due no later than the 18th of the month forty years ago. Any color slides are hand prior to month of publication. tinted on the glass prior to sealing with a second glass plate and tape. NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS ANNUAL BANQUET We are always happy to receive information A flyer containing all the details on the about railroading in the Rocky Mountain Club's Annual Banquet will accompany the region and, very often, as space permits, September Newsletter, but we would like to use other regional data.
    [Show full text]