Upper Cameron Wash

1921

2003

Description:

Plate 149X. Upper Cameron Wash 1921-2003 Viewed east across the upper portion of Cameron Wash with Barney Top (10,392 ft.) and Powell Point (10,188 ft.) in the distance. Plates 148x and 149x form a panorama. Conifers now block the original camera station, so the retake was made from the nearest open area. Conifers, primarily ponderosa pine, have increased markedly despite repeated logging. Pinyon and juniper have also increased. Oakbrush has declined where it has been over-topped by conifers. Mountain big sage and black sage have increased in the remaining open areas. Note how few young ponderosa pine there were in 1921 and how that has changed. Frequent, low-intensity fires once limited conifer regeneration and kept these forests open and parklike. Such is not the case today.

Photo Information:

U.S. Geological Survey photograph taken by R.C. Moore (No. 148) in 1921; retake by Charles E. Kay on June 24, 2003 - - Photo No. 5173-6. Original photograph held by U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library, Denver, CO.

Vegetative Community:

Conifer, Pinyon, Juniper, Oakbrush, Sagebrush

Location:

South West: Section 20, Range 2 West, Township 35 South; UTM 408900 E, 4177900 N; elevation 8,200 ft.

January 2018