Cheatgrass is an annual invasive grass, and its range is expanding in the Gunnison Basin (the Uncompahgre River Watershed is in the Gunnison Basin). This plant increases wildfire frequency, reduces forage for livestock and big game, and reduces the quality of wildlife habitat. If you want to learn how to control this plant on your … Read more
Also see San Juan Mining & Reclamation website: https://www.mountainstudies.org/sjmrc
The Uncompahgre River is typically a yellowish color due to high metal concentrations from the highly mineralized mountains and abandoned hard-rock mines upstream. This summer it ran deep orange several times due to the heavy rains that sent even more sediment flowing into the river between Ouray and Ridgway. Similarly, streams in southeastern Ohio run … Read more
