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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3.5 Mining In Conejos County the area associated with mineral extraction accounts for only 0.71 percent of privately owned land (1,946 acres). Most of the mineral extraction activities occur in the watershed just south of the Alamosa River Watershed (Conejos River Watershed) around Platoro. primarily for silver extraction (9). There are currently no large-scale mineral extraction activities occurring in the Alamosa River Watershed. Mining Permits and Claims exist in the Alamosa River Watershed. Attachment 3 provides a listing of the mineral rights owners in the Alamosa River Watershed. A few active permits and claims are owned by three individuals; Clifford Mansanares has the Long Walk and Whiskey Claims. Ryan Burns possesses the Burns #1 and #2 claims, and Wayne Burns also has the Burns #2 claim (15). Historically, the Miser Mine was activated by Earth Resources I nc. in 1998 (16). The USFS Rio Grande National Forest Management Plan recognizes that mineral development is compatible with the ecosystem capabilities and resource values. Balanced use and development of mineral resources is allowed with appropriate mitigation and monitoring. Any problems with mining activities on USFS property are expected to be corrected (11). Conejos County has a mineral extraction plan that facilitates preservation and protection of the local commercial mineral deposits. Applicants must ensure that all extraction activities address environmental and compatibility issues for approval. 3.6 Ecological CommunitiesNegetation The Alamosa River Watershed contains a diversity of ecological communities. There are four major ecological communities in the Alamosa River Watershed. These ecological communities include the following (9): 1. Desert Shrubland and Grasslands- these areas are found as high as 7.500-8,000 feet in elevation. Shrubland contains semi-desert (less than 10 inches precipitation), sagebrush and mountains. Exposed soils comprise over 50 percent of the ground cover and plant species tend to be low in height. 2. Low to Mid-Elevation Forest and Woodlands-In the foothills and lower mountain areas (6.000-8,000 feet) open forests and woodlands form a green canopy. Juniper and Pinyon Pine are the dominant species, though sparse. The vegetation near Terrace Reservoir is predominately Pinyon Pine trees with undergrowth of rangeland grass. 3. Mid to High-Elevation Forests- Dense strands of fir cover the mountainsides (8,000- 9,500 feet). Douglas Fir and White Fir are dominant species in these elevations. At the lower elevations, and Ponderosa Pine prevail. 4. Alpine Tundra, Meadows and Rock Slopes- Landscape of broken forest and montane grasslands, and alpine tundra and rock outcrops dominate. This zone is from 10,000-14.000 feet. 3-7