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Lands in Las Animas County are classified and divided into zoning districts. There are two <br />zoning districts within the Lorencito Canyon permit area; the Agricultural District and the Rural <br />Residential District. Underground and strip mines are a conditional use of these zoning districts <br />and require a special use permit. <br />Population is sparse in the region, with the vast majority of residents living along the Purgatoire <br />River and Colorado Highway 12. Ranching is the main focus for many of the residents, although <br />recently an increase in summer residents has occurred due to development and sale of ranchettes <br />in the area. Big game hunting in the region, particularly trophy elk hunting, is also an important <br />land use and source of income to many of the local ranchers and outfitters. <br />Permit Area <br />The Lorencito Canyon mine is situated on 3142 acres of private land southeast of the town of <br />Weston, Colorado. The 7.5 minute series topographic map of the Little Pine Canyon Quadrangle <br />depicts the majority of the permit area. Elevations within the permit area range from 6600 feet <br />above mean sea level in the northeast part of the permit area to 7350 feet in portions of the <br />southern permit area. Steep slopes and rugged canyons generally describe the topography of the <br />permit area. With the exception of relatively, narrow, flat canyon floors of Lorencito and Cow <br />Canyons, most of the permit area is dissected by V- shaped side drainages to the main canyons. <br />These drainages are rimmed by steep, rocky outcrops, and watersheds are divided by narrow, <br />sharp ridges. Four main canyons are situated within the permit boundary. Cow Canyon bounds <br />the permit area on the west. Lorencito Canyon and Little Jeff Canyon are located in the eastern <br />portion of the permit area. Jeff Canyon runs west to east through the center of the permit area <br />and Puertecito Canyon bounds the permit area on the south. Surface mining activities were <br />generally focused in Lorencito Canyon and on the north ridge of Jeff Canyon. <br />Land use of the permit area is dominated by rangeland /wildlife habitat. Ninety -nine (99) <br />percent, or 3117 acres, of the permit area is, by Coal Regulation definition, rangeland /wildlife <br />habitat. Cropland and irrigated cropland occupy 25 acres, mainly along the Purgatoire River <br />alluvial valley floor. <br />In addition to the two main drainages within the permit area, Lorencito and Cow creeks, <br />numerous other drainages exist within the permit and adjacent area. Chimney, Jeff, Puertecito, <br />Little Pine, Bonita, Alamosa, and Little Alamosa creeks all drain areas within the permit and <br />adjacent area. Only Lorencito creek demonstrated perennial flows during the baseline collection <br />period. Minimum flows at all other sites were recorded as zero at least once during the baseline <br />period. <br />Large flows occur down ephemeral drainages in response to intense precipitation events, <br />typically during the months of July, August, and September. A flow of 240 cubic feet per second <br />was recorded at the mouth of Little Pine Canyon. Snowmelt contributes only a small percentage <br />of total runoff, as infiltration and sublimation likely account for most of available snowmelt <br />waters. <br />