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• May 2003 — The berm was removed so there was no separation between the two ponds (what is now <br /> Sandy Acres gravel pit pond). <br /> • October 2013—No changes from the May 2003 photo. <br /> Site Description <br /> The Project is located within the Flat to Rolling Plains ecological region of the High Plains. This area is higher <br /> and drier than the Central Great Plains. Grama-buffalo grass (Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua dactyloides) is <br /> the potential natural vegetation in this region. Much of the High Plains comprises smooth to slightly irregular <br /> plains having a high percentage of cropland. Dryland farming is extensive, with areas of irrigated cropland <br /> scattered throughout the ecoregion. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the main cash crop in this area <br /> (Chapman,et al.2006). <br /> Elevation at the site is approximately 5,026 feet above mean sea level. The surrounding area has flat topography <br /> and is comprised of gravel mining operations, agricultural land,and highways. <br /> The USDA — NRCS Web Soil Survey has listed four predominant soil units mapped within the Project Area: <br /> Dacono loam (0 to 1 percent slopes); Dacono loam (1 to 3 percent slopes); Nunn loam (0 to 1 percent slopes), <br /> and terrace escarpments. All soil types are classified as well drained, non-hydric soils with no frequency of <br /> flooding or ponding,and with the depth to groundwater at greater than 80 inches(USDA 2014). <br /> The Project area is located within the Todd Creek- South Platte River watershed, Hydrological Unit Code <br /> 101900030405 (EPA 2014). Sandy Acres gravel pit pond was created during gravel mining activities with <br /> groundwater as its water source. <br /> METHODS <br /> The Project study area was determined by overlaying the Project engineering drawings over aerial photographs. <br /> Field maps were created with ESRI ArcGIS®software. Information collected prior to surveys included: <br /> • A review of U.S. Geological Service (USGS)National Hydrography Dataset(NHD)and U.S. Fish and <br /> Wildlife Service(USFWS)National Wetland Inventory (NWI)data(USGS 2014 and USFWS 2014). <br /> • The USGS Brighton 7.5 minute quadrangle map(USGS 2012) <br /> • A review of the soils survey in the Project area <br /> During the survey, photographs of the site were taken from representative vantage points and are included in <br /> Appendix A of this Exhibit. The following information was recorded: <br /> • Vegetative habitats <br /> • Habitat community structure <br /> • Dominant species within each vegetative strata <br /> • Any wetland features as evidenced by the presence of obligate, facultative wet,or facultative vegetation <br /> • Any surface water features and their physical characteristics <br /> • The occurrence of any wildlife,nests,burrows,or dens with special emphasis placed on listed species <br /> URS ecologists walked the study area on June 10, 2014, to formally delineate wetlands and surface water <br /> features. Weather during the survey was sunny, with ambient temperatures averaging between approximately <br /> 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. <br /> Wetland delineations were conducted using the protocol outlined in the Corps of Engineers Wetlands <br /> Delineation Manual(Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers <br /> Delineation Manual: Great Plains Region Version 2.0 (Environmental Laboratory 2010). Wetlands were <br /> 2 <br />