Cottonwood trees line the banks of the Fremont River below the gullied slopes of South Caineville Mesa a few miles east of Capitol Reef National Park. This small wetland supports a diversity of plants and animals in this otherwise harsh desert environment. This valley normally receives a scant 5 of rain per year. The gullied slopes of the mesa were caused by erosion of the very soft Blue Gate Shale formation. This material crumbles in the hand and is easily washed away during the late-summer monsoon season as occasional thunderstorms unleash downpours on these slopes. Due to this erosive process and the expansive clays in this formation, few plants can get a foothold. The Fremont River originates high on Fish Lake Plateau west of here before it carves through the Navajo, Kayenta and Wingate sandstones of Capitol Reef National Park and then out into these wide valleys. This photograph was captured on 6x7 format film. All photos in these galleries may be ordered as fine art framed prints or for stock photography usage.