This short reach (3 km) extends from the downstream limit of McGraw Bottom (Bkm 178) to the mouth of the Dolores River (Bkm 175). This reach is nearly straight (average sinuosity – 1.1) and has a relatively low gradient (0.08%). It flows through a shallow, north-south trending valley that cuts across northeast dipping sandstones and shales of the Cedar Mountain, Dakota and Morrison formations.
This reach is dominated by shrub species: tamarisk (14%), willow (12%), xeric shrubs (7%) and sumac (2%). Cottonwoods comprise 6 percent of the bottomland cover, with only 4% in non-native herbaceous cover, mostly associated with agricultural activities (6 ha). Ownership is mostly State (71%), with some private (20%) and a small portion of BLM (9%).
