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<br />used (building parking lot and trail locations ) but also aimed at increasing the number of users in <br />the project and adjacent properties. The result to the soils land health standards can not be <br />determined and depend upon ability of those with implementation authority to control the use of <br />the recreational visitors to the park and adjacent lands. <br /> <br />VEGETATION (includes a finding on Standard 3) <br /> <br />Affected Environment: The climate ofthe analysis area averages 11 to 16 inches of <br />precipitation annually, with July and August producing the highest amount of rainfall. May and <br />June produce the least amount of rainfall. The mean annual temperature for the area is 40 <br />degrees F. with a frost free period of 60 to 100 days. The optimal growing season for native <br />plants is May 1 through August 15 (NRCS, 1995). Elevation of the analysis area is 7,954 feet. <br /> <br />The analysis area is located within two separate range site descriptions. According to the Natural <br />Resource Conservation Service (1995), a range site is an area of rangeland where climate, soil, <br />and topography are sufficiently uniform to produce a distinct natural plant community. The <br />range sites associated with this analysis include Pinyon-Juniper and Boulder Flats. <br /> <br />The Pinyon-Juniper range site occurs primarily on the east bank of the Arkansas River within the <br />analysis area. The pinyon-juniper site is an association of species including pinyon pine as the <br />dominant woodland type. Due to the upper elevation limits, juniper is typically a secondary <br />woodland type occurring intermittently. In addition, ponderosa pine could occur as an isolated <br />component. The mid and under-story levels consists of shrubs, forbs and grasses. Forbs and <br />shrubs that may occur in the area include mountain mahogany, wax current, fringed sagebrush, <br />rabbitbrush, and yucca. Primary grasses associated with this type include blue grama, mountain <br />muhly, needle and thread, and Indian ricegrass. <br /> <br />The Boulder Flats range site occurs on the west side of the river within the analysis area. The <br />potential plant community on this site is predominately native grasses with sparse amounts of <br />forbs and shrubs. The primary grasses are Indian ricegrass, needle-and-thread, and western <br />wheatgrass. Forbs and shrubs consist of fringed sagebrush, mountain mahogany, and wax <br />current. Trees on this site are typically isolated and scattered and comprised mainly of pinyon- <br />juniper and ponderosa pine. However, due to on-going disturbances to the site, the site does not <br />match the potential plant community. Instead, the site consists primarily of annual plants, <br />isolated pinyon-pine and bare ground. <br /> <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: Currently, the west bank of the river on <br />public land is receiving impacts related to disperse recreation activities that are generally un- <br />restricted. The Proposed Action may help remedy an on-going problem with un-restricted use by <br />restricting use to specific hardened areas. Constructing these facilities will have short term <br />negative impacts to vegetation. However, the long term benefits to the vegetation will out weigh <br />any negative impacts. Any vegetative seeding that may occur should be of native origin to the <br />site. The No-Action Alternative will not create any new disturbances. The un-restricted <br />recreation would be allowed to continue resulting in negative impacts to the vegetation. <br />