The central Meander Canyon reach extends for 38 km from Bkm 78 at the mouth of Shafer Canyon to Bkm 40 at the upstream end of The Loop. This sinuous to meandering canyon trends generally north-south across broadly-folded, sub-horizontal strata of the lower Cutler Fm, locally capped by the arkosic facies of the Cutler Fm. The canyon is generally symmetric in cross-profile, 460 to 760 m wide and 90 to 200 m deep. The average gradient along this reach and throughout Meander Canyon is approximately 0.02%. This long and narrow reach is heavily shrub dominated with tamarisk (19%), native xeric shrubs (9%), willow (8%), and seepweed (2%). Many native riparian tree species are present, though none are common; cottonwood,...
