1910
1999
Side by side comparison
Map
Data Sheet
VALLEY OF THE GODS
General Description: This photograph is one of a series depicting the
environs and development of the Goodridge Oil Field. The view is north toward
Balanced Rock. The immediate area is on a state section with BLM administered
land surrounding it.
Soils: The site is near a boundary between Moenkopie or Moenkopie complex
soils and Limeridge soil. Limeridge soils are yellowish red fine sandy loams
that are well drained with very low or low water supplying capacity. They are
typically no more than 19 inches deep over cemented hardpan. Moenkopie or
Moenkopie warm complex soils are red very gravelly to sandy loams ranging in
depth from only 6 to 9 inches over bedrock. Both Moenkopie soils are moderately
to rapidly drained with very low water holding capacities.
Precipitation: A fifty year average annual precipitation of 6.50 inches
has been recorded at Bluff, Utah, some 8 miles south of this photopoint.
Legal Description: NW1/4NE1/4 Section 36 T.40S., R.18E.
COMPARISON: Overall shrub composition, frequencies and groundcover have
increased slightly in the 89 years between photographs. Rare blackbrush
reproduction has occurred in this site. However, the wavyleaf oak plants present
in 1910 are no longer found. This loss may have resulted from wind erosion of
surface sand from the site as there appears to be more desert pavement in the
1999 photograph as compared to 1910. Cheatgrass is now found on this site.
Because of the low precipitation rates and shallow, less productive soils that
exist here, the site may be in a stable state. As such, improvements such as
change in vegetation composition and frequencies are slow to occur. Some other
plants occurring here are Mormon tea, cliffrose, Indian ricegrass, snakeweed,
bush encelia and pricklypear cactus.
Original:
Date: ca. 1910 (- A)
Photographer: E.G. Woodruff
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Colorado
Photograph Number: Woodruff No. 165
Retake:
Date: June 3, 1999 (- B)
Photographer: Earl Hindley
Source: San Juan County
