Vegetation and substrate on aeolian landscapes in the Colorado River corridor, Cataract Canyon, Utah

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2010-1273

Volume

2010

Issue

1273

First Page

1

Publisher

USGS

Last Page

61

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

Vegetation and substrate data presented in this report characterize ground cover on aeolian landscapes of the Colorado River corridor through Cataract Canyon, Utah, in Canyonlands National Park. The 27-km-long Cataract Canyon reach has undergone less anthropogenic alteration than other reaches of the mainstem Colorado River. Characterizing ecosystem parameters there provides a basis against which to evaluate future changes, such as those that could result from the further spread of nonnative plant species or increased visitor use. Upstream dams have less effect on the hydrology and sediment supply in Cataract Canyon compared with downstream reaches in Grand Canyon National Park. For this reason, comparison of these vegetation and substrate measurements with similar data from aeolian landscapes of Grand Canyon will help to resolve the effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on the Colorado River corridor ecosystem.

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