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Salt Flats

Ecoregion in Rocky Mountains, CO

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The Salt Flats ecoregion includes the alkaline basin that surrounds the San Luis Lakes. The smooth to irregular plains of low to moderate relief have elevations ranging from 7400 to 7700 feet, some of the lowest areas in the San Luis Valley. Vegetation is sparse, with greasewood and shadscale dominating along with scattered areas of horsebrush, spiny hopsage, rabbitbrush, saltgrass, alkali sacaton, and small areas of sagebrush at the eastern edges. Some areas are devoid of vegetation. Land use is limited to low density livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Unlike 22b, cropland is more limited within this region due to the more alkaline soils. Precipitation ranges from 6 to 8 inches annually.

— EPA

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Ecoregion