You are here Range Creek Geography & Geology The Range Creek
ecosystem is the area of the West Tavaputs Plateau drained by
Range Creek, a perennial stream that flows about thirty miles in
a roughly northwest to southeast direction to its confluence
with the Green River. The creek originates at Bruin Point about
10,200 feet above sea level and terminates thirty miles south at
an elevation of about 4,200 feet at the confluence. Local
topography consists of friable sandstones, mostly lacustrine
deposits attributed to the Tertiary Period of geologic history,
with a south-to-north tilt characterized by dramatically deep
erosionally carved canyons that ultimately drain into the Green
River. Physiographically the project area is situated in the
Book Cliff-Roan Plateau section of the Colorado Plateau
Provenience. The nearly vertical Book Cliffs are carved into
Cretaceous (145-65 MYA) sandstones and shales of marine origin.
The Roan Cliffs found to the north and at higher elevations, are
composed of river and flood pl