Thurs, J. 9. 1972 Journal Cottonwood Creek, Elvair Basin, Smiles E. 3/4 miles S. of Wells Pocket Peak, Parbridge Mountains, Elko Co. Nevada. Elevation 6500 ft. July 24-25 my steps a slow ways and took a track across the creek bottom points (Crid) the slope S. of the stream. After about 1/2-2 miles, I came to a metal cattle guard at two second fence line. I did not cross the guard, but turned W. and drove the track paralleling the fence. I drove this about 2 1/2 miles, packed off the road & walked N. toward the creek ~1 mile. I crossed 2 shallow drainages before reaching the top of a long slope down to Cottonwood Creek. Then I walked right into the middle of the fenced Biological Study area in the drainage. I walked the creek for about 1/2 mile upstream to the first tell cottonwoods & creek are (3/4 mile upstream was a large copse of willows, I appeared cottonwood or aspen). From this point upstream for about 3-3 1/2 miles, the creek is continuous on the surface, and riparian growth is largely continuous, though tall trees are not. The several large cottonwood groves have trees 50-70' high, 2-3' dbh, and mostly dead tops. These large trees are all broad-leaf cottonwoods and are localized to 6-8 areas in this 3-3 1/2 miles span. The bulk of the tall riparian vegetation is willow and quaking aspen, the former commonly 15-20' tall, the latter commonly 20-40 ft. In some places the dominant plants was older, a shrub or tree 10-30' tall. Rose were common along the creek, again forming thickets, some low, some taller than me. The stream bottom was impounded repeatedly (about 25 times I saw) by beavers, and about 1/3 of these were V. substantial ponds. Most of these had visitors (in mid-afternoon') resident beavers. Lots of shrubs and wildflowers in flower, more Columbine here than below. Lots of grass, etc. The adjacent slopes had stunted sagebrush, skunked E Rosa, Klaus, and bitterbrush, and several other shrubs I can't identify. The plant cover is mostly < 2' tall. The north-facing slope has a few