1925 1999
Side by side comparison
Map
Data Sheet
COW CANYON
General Description: The view is south down Cow Canyon toward the San
Juan River and Bluff, Utah which is about 1 mile southwest of the site. Land
status at the immediate location is state property with private lands beginning
near the canyon mouth. Bureau of Land Management administered lands are found
near the river. Precipitation: Seventy years of records taken at Bluff, Utah
show an average annual precipitation rate of 6.8 inches.
Legal Description: SW1/4NE1/4 Section 19 T.40S., R.22E.
COMPARISON: In addition to obvious changes that have been made to Highway
163, riparian gains are also striking. Significant increases in Fremont
cottonwood, Gooding willow and common reed have occurred here since 1925. Other
species found in the scene include singleleaf ash, saltgrass, greasewood, alkali
sacaton, greasewood, Mormon tea, rabbitbrush and cheatgrass. Exotic woody
species, tamarisk and Russian olive have also established since 1925. Obvious
vegetation and channel changes have also occurred along the San Juan River. The
once wide, somewhat sparsely vegetated channel has narrowed with significant
increases in riparian vegetation along the banks and floodplain. Woody species
there include Fremont cottonwood, Gooding willow, coyote willow, Russian olive,
and tamarisk.
Original:
Date: 1925 (- A)
Photographer: W.T. Lee
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
Photograph Number: Lee No. 3048
Retake:
Date: June 1, 1999 (- B)
Photographer: Earl Hindley
Source: San Juan County
