Smith Mesa

1920

2007

Description:

Plate 1430X. Smith Mesa 1920 – 2007 Plates 1430x to 1433x form a panorama taken from the south end of Smith Mesa above the town of Virgin, UT. Plate 1430x is viewed north-northeast across North Creek to Zion National Park. The juniper in the left foreground has died but a pinyon has taken its place. The road up North Creek is visible in the retake (photo center) and woody riparian vegetation has increased where the road crosses the stream. Along the road, pinyon and juniper were overrun by wildfire in 2006. In the rest of the image, though, pinyon and juniper have increased. Fields have also been cleared on the mesa east of North Creek (photo right-center edge). The photopoint is 100 ft. northeast of the Virgin benchmark.

Photo Information:

Original photograph taken by J.B. Reeside, Jr. (No. 55) ca. 1920; retake by Charles E. Kay on June 20, 2007 - - Photo No. 5811-3. Original photograph held by the U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library, Denver, CO.

Vegetative Community:

Riparian, Pinyon, Juniper

Location:

South West: Section 3, Range 12 West, Township 41 South; UTM 305700 E, 4124400 N; elevation 5,750 ft.

January 2018