""^'aariifiir " 



^4^ 



Figure 85. Typical Seward Peninsula landform at Penny River. 



river and it flows in braided pattern through the study reach. The other 

 rivers have a single well-defined active channel with occasional side channels 

 or islands. The presence of occasional reaches of steeply eroded river bank do 

 not create strong, visibly apparent vertical lines. Some river edges are of 

 coarse texture with cobbles and boulders. All river systems enhance the scenic 

 quality of the immediate surroundings, but they are not the most dominant 

 element in the large scale landscape. 



In the Seward Peninsula, riparian vegetation grows in various densities 

 and heights. In most cases low-growing shrubs (1-2 m) are interspersed with 

 other ground cover species (herbaceous and woody). Islands frequently are 

 vegetated with similar vegetative communities. The Penny River in particular 

 has extensive, wide bands of tall (2 to 3 m) riparian willow. The greener 

 shrub thicket vegetation also extends up adjacent val leys providing a sharp 

 color and texture contrast with the matted brown tundra on the surrounding 

 hillsides. Dense shrub thickets also are a common feature along old diversion 

 ditches, seeps, and other water sources; these create contrasting bands and 

 clumps of dense green color across the brown hillsides. 



293 



