Discussion Post 1

Geography- The granite cliffs within the canyon were part of the earth's crust 1.4 to 1.7 billions of years ago.

History- Prospecting/ mining of copper and silver began in 1882 and came to an end in 1912 due to loss of resources.

Plantlife- The Broadleaf Yucca can be identified by its long blue-green, spikey leaves, its long thin white hairs and the cream tear-drop shaped flowers.

Wildlife- The Bighorn sheep, also known as the Ovis Canadensis nelsoni, uses their horns to protect their brains by absorbing the impact of crashes.

Watershed- The water that comes through the canyon is set to pass through geologic features such as Cataract Canyon, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.

Geology- The main rock found in the Unaweep Canyon is a large Precambrian-cored rock that dates back to be billions of years old.

History- The first school in Gateway was built in 1903. In 1926 the school was re-built and is still in use today.

Plantlife- The Brown-Spined Prickly Pear is more wide than tall and has red/yellow/pink flowers, sharp leaves, and a thickblue-green stem.

Watershed- Fish such as cutthroat, rainbow, cut bow, and brown trout are all found in the Dolores/Colorado River watersheds.

Wildlife- The Gray Fox has a gray body and a yellow-orange belly/tail. They live in the desert and live for about 4-6 years measuring 30-40 inches long and weighing 8-16 pounds. They eat smaller mammals, birds, voles, insects, and leaves.

Geology- The name “Unaweep” means “canyon with 2 mouths” in Ute two different creeks, West Creek and East Creek, flow out of opposite sides of the canyon.

History- the first school in gateway was a one room schoolhouse built in 1903, but as gateway grew they built another school in 1926. This school is still a part of the current gateway school.

Plant life- Colorado Pinyon Pine or Pinus edulis is a more scrubby pine that's native to Colorado. The pinyon pine has edible pine nuts and can grow to be about 10-20 m tall.

Watershed- The water in the unaweep river will travel through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Along the way it will travel through Cataract Canyon, Glen Canyon, Escalante- Grand Staircase, and the Grand Canyon, finally it will end in sea around the Gulf of California

Wildlife- The Collared Lizard or Crotaphytus collaris is native to Colorado. Males are bright green, yellow, orange or tan with white spots, and females have a more muted color scheme with black and white throat stripes.

Geology- This canyon acts as a miniature "continental divide" with the East and West creek flowing out of each side. West flowing into the Dolores river and east to Gunnison. Both flowing back into the Colorado river. Only canyon in the world known to divide like this.

History- Ute natives lived here until settlers pushed them out. Many cattleman, and establishing a town. Later to grow into a mining town. Starting with copper and silver. Later mined Radium. Radium is used for self-luminous paint. During the wars these mines would open and close, and uranium was mined for bombs. No active mines now.

Wildlife- Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. Identified by their red bellies. Also brown and green with speckled dark spots. Love the high elevations, and rapid-flowing waters. Native to Colorado, and our sate fish.

Plant life- Hookless cactus. Thick and round with light and bright pink flowers with yellow centers. Endemic species, meaning native to a specific location. Also on the endangered list.

Watershed- Water from the San Juans and other mountains move to the Unaweep canyon. From here it is split East, or West. Taking journeys along Gunnison or Colorado rivers. Meeting in the Colorado river. Flowing all the way to California.

Geology- The main rock found throughout the unaweep canyon is large, Precambrian-cored rock dating back to millions, even billions of years ago

History- Propectors came to Gateway to find copper and silver

Plantlife- Mormon tea as well as Yucca are common plants found in the canyon

Watersheds- Fish such as cutthroat, rainbow, cut bow, and brown trout are all found throughout the Dolores/ Colorado River Watersheds

Wildlife- Bald eagles can be found in there habitats there.

Geology: Geologist have found gravel volcanic rock and evidence of volcanic activity in the canyon about 1.46 million years ago.

History: From 1910 to 1923 almost all of the radium in the world came from Western Colorado and the mined radium would be transported through the canyon.

Plant life: The brown-spited prickly pear is wide with red yellow or pink flowers and has a thick waxy oval shape.

Watersheds: Different insects such as fly nymphs, hipper and mayflies are evidence of a healthy stream.

Willlife: Collard lizards are bright green, yellow, orange tan with white spots. The females are not as vibrant as the males and have striped back and white throut.

Geology- Unsweep means the canyon with two mouths and it's the only canyon in the world to have a water that flows West and another to flow East. There are 4 hypothesis on how the canyon was formed: Uplift, Volcanic activity, Glacier activity, River and lake erosion

History- First records are from 1800s, in 1881 a treaty was formed that removed Ute Indians from the area. Families began to move into the canyon and started cattle ranching. First school was build in 1903 and is still apart of the Gateway school to this day. There was copper and silver mining from 1882-1913 and Uranium mining started in 1899

Plant life- Plant life ranges from trees such as Utah Juniper, CO Pinyon Pine and Cottonwood. Bushes such as Sagebrush, Mormon tea and willow.

Wildlife- There are many different species such as: Birds and Insects, Squirrels, Mice, Foxes, Ringtails, Deer, Elk, Mountain Lions, Black Bears, Bobcats, Lizards, Snakes, and Fish.

Watershed- Water flows East and West, West creek joins Dolores River and together it travels through the Colorado Plateau where it meets the Colorado river and travels through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California

Geology- Fossil Fill means ancient soil buried by other sediments and then hardened into rock.

History- Settler mines copper and silver.

Plantlife- Hookless Cactus is also called the Sclerocactus glaucus.

Watershed- Unaweep Canyon is the only canyon in the world that the water flows both east and west from a highpoint.

Wildlife- The Pinyon Mouse is a nocturnal animal that is a great climber.

Geology- The main rock found throughout the canyon is large, Precambrian-core rock dating back to millions, even billions of years ago.

History- some of the ranching families still live in Unaweep and are called legacy families.

Plantlife- The Brown-Spined Prickly Pear look like cactus with red, yellow, or pink flowers on them.

Watershed- Cutthroat, rainbow, Cut bow, and brown Trout fish are all found in the Colorado river watershed.

Wildlife- Bald eagles are big birds with white heads and The females are all larger than the males.

Geology: The Unaweep Canyon is layered with igneous, metamorphic, then sedimentary rock.

History: Gateway was first inhabited by Ute Indians, then by cattle ranchers in the early 1900s, then by uranium and radium miners. From 1910-1923 almost all of the world's radium came from Western Colorado.

Plantlife: I recognized all plants except the Pinyon and Ponderosa pines, so now I should be able to identify them.

Watershed: the West Creek flows through OWL and meets with the Dolores River.

Wildlife: there are 11 types of birds and insects, 19 types of fauna, and 9 types of fish in the Lowland Riparian of Unaweep.

Geology: the granite cliffs that are found in the canyon were previously bedrock of the Earth's crust.

History: Copper and Silver mining were popular in the years 1875-1912. The practice was ceased when resources became scarce.

Plant life :The Broadleaf Yucca is a plant with long spikey leaves with trialing white hairs. This plant produces small white flowers and oval shaped fruit.

Watershed: fly nymphs, mayflies, stoneflies and hippers are all evidence of a healthy stream. These macroinvertebrate species are apart of the Colorado River Watershed.

Wildlife: The magpie is a black and white bird with streaks of blue. They usually live 5-6 years.

Geology - Unaweep means canyon with two mouths in ute

History - The school was built in 1903, and then rebuilt in 1926 - almost 100 years old

Plant Life - Cottonwood trees grow near the water

Watershed - The canyon is unique because a divide forms causing water to flow both east and west

Wildlife - Ringtails can be spotted by there black and white striped tail

Geology: Geologists have found gravel volcanic rock and evidence of volcanic activity in the canyon about 1.46 million years ago.

History: The first school in Gateway was built in 1903 and was a one room schoolhouse. They built another school in 1926 that is still apart of the current Gateway school.

Plant Life: The Brown-Spined Prickly Pear is more wide than tall and has red/yellow/pink flowers, sharp leaves, and a thickblue-green stem.

Watershed: The water flows East to West and the West creek flows through OWL and meets with the Dolores river.

Wildlife: The mountain lion can run as fast as 50 MPH.

Geography - Unaweep is a Ute Indian word meaning "canyon with two mouths"

History - Prospectors found deposits of copper and silver on the east creek drainage and began prospecting and mining in 1882.

Plant life - The Hookless Cactus is a small spherical cactus with a bright pink flower that has a yellow center and is endangered.

Watershed - Unaweep is the only canyon in the world with a high point in the middle and water flowing both east and west.

Wildlife - Miners used to keep ringtails as pets to keep vermin away and they can be identified by their black and white striped tail.

Geology: The granite cliffs found throughout the canyon previously was the bedrock of earth’s crust 1.4 to 1.7 billions of years ago, but rose after a geological uplifting event.

History: Settlers who came to Unaweep canyon came for a variety of reasons, but a large majority came for ranching and mining.

Plantlife: Brown-Spined Prickly Pear are found in the canyon. Its scientific name is Opuntia polyacantha. It is more wide than tall, with red/yellow/ pink flowers, sharp “leaves” and a thick, waxy, oval-shape blue-green stem.

Watershed: With a high point in the middle of the canyon forming a divide, water flows both east and west. Unaweep is the only canyon in the world where this is known to occur!

Wildlife: The collared lizard uses their tail to balance like a T rex would. They eat spiders, insects, and sometimes their own young!