Virgin River
1872
2006
Description:
Plate 1214X. Virgin River 1872 – 2006 Viewed northwest up the Virgin River in Zion National Park. The photopoint is on the eastside of the river about 200 ft below the new footbridge built by the Park Service. On the skyline is The Sentinel (7,120 ft). Cottonwoods have matured but there is an absence of saplings in the retake due to eXcessive herbivory by an unnatural concentration of mule deer (Ripple and Beschta 2006). For comparison, note all the young cottonwood seedlings and saplings in the 1872 image. Pinyon, juniper, and turbinella oak have increased in the distance.
Photo Information:
Original photograph taken by John Hillers (No. 77) in 1872; retake by Charles E. Kay on June 7, 2006 - - Photo No. 5643-14A. Original photograph held by the U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library, Denver, CO.
Vegetative Community:
Riparian, Pinyon, Juniper
Location:
South West: Section 22, Range 10 West, Township 41 South; UTM 324850 E, 4120400 N; elevation 4,000 ft.