1. FIELD AREA: The Seven Parks area of Snowshoe Mountain

GEOLOGY CLIMATE, and VEGETATION

Snowshoe Mountain is an eroded central dome of a caldera complex, which was crystallized about 26.5 My before present (Steven and Lipman, 1976). It is comprised of augite-biotite, quartz latite, welded tuff with high-angle, normal faults, trending sub- parallel to the Deep Creek fault system.

The Seven Parks area is at an elevation of approximately 3500 m, and is sparsely covered with Engelmann spruce (Picea, engelmanni), and shallow (0.0 - 1.0 m) regolith. The mean annual temperature is 2^o C, and mean annual precipitation is about 50 cm, most of which is in the form of snowfall.

FIELD SAMPLING SITES

Waters were collected from sampling sites which are shown to the left. Infiltrating water samples were collected from the rock pit site and soil lysimeters. Phreatic waters, for comparison, were collected from wells and a nearby perennial spring.

THE "ROCK PIT" SITE"

The rock pit site is a unique zero-tension collector, which intercepts water flowing naturally through a regolith profile, typical of the area.

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Last modified: Thursday, 16-July-98 15:50:14 MST