2014-07-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981035A (5)

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Table 1. Soil Types at Nine Drill Hole Sites Drill Site Soil Type CO -14 -01 Pulpit loam, 3 % -12% slopes C0-14 -02 Pulpit loam, 3 % -12% percent slopes CO -14 -03 Lazear -Rock outcrop complex, 12 % -65% percent slopes CO-14-04 Pulpit loam, 3 % -12% percent slopes CO -14 -05 Pulpit loam, 3 % -12% percent slopes CO -14 -06 Archuleta - Sanchez complex, 12 0/6-65% slopes (west side); Lazear -Rock outcrop complex, 12 % -65% slopes (east side) CO -14 -07 Lazear -Rock outcrop complex, 12 %-65 %slopes CO -14 -08 Lazear -Rock outcrop complex, 12 % -65 %slopes CO -14 -09 Pulpit loam, 3 % -12 %percent slopes Source: Naturai Resources conservation service. Vegetation The project areas are located in the Colorado Plateau pinyon juniper woodlands landcover type at the lower elevations and transition into the Rocky Mountain Gambel oak —mixed montane shrubland at the higher elevations. The landform is eroded sandstone /shale mesas and foothills. The dominant species in the pinyon juniper woodland are twoneedle pinyon (Pinus edulis) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) with co- dominant Rocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum) at higher elevations. The understory ranges from absent to shrubs or graminoids.5 The understory contained predominantly Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), banana yucca (Yucca baccata), Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), and toadflax penstemon ( Penstemon linarioides). Vegetation cover in this plant community ranges from 50% to 85 %. The dominant species in the Rocky Mountain Gambel oak —mixed montane shrubland are Gambel oak, either alone or co- dominant, with a variety of mesic montane shrubs such as serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), snowberry (Symphoricarpos sp.), and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata).6 Other dominant species include scattered twoneedle pinyon and juniper, along with Utah serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis), roundleaf snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius), sagebrush, mountain mahogany, and cliff fendlerbush (Fendlera rupicola). Herbaceous plants include blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), toadflax penstemon, Ives' fournerved daisy (Tetraneuris ivesiana), and sulphur -flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum). Vegetation cover in this plant community ranged from 70% to 85 %. Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) was found in some of the previously disturbed areas, particularly the clearing around CO- 14 -01, probably as a result of reseeding efforts. Table 2 lists the plant species identified in the project areas. Figure 2 shows the map of vegetation communities in the project areas. Soil surface in the general project area is largely undisturbed aside from the two -track roads and old sections of barbed wire fencing. During the survey, there were a few weedy species found in or near these disturbances: pale madwort (Alyssum alyssoides), horehound (Marrubium vulgare), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), and redstem stork's bill (Erodium cicutarium). None of these were found over extensive areas; however, redstem stork's bill is a Class B noxious weed and common mullein is a Class C noxious weed in the state of Colorado.' List B species have populations of varying densities throughout the state and control measures are determined on a local basis. List C species are widespread and may be 4 Ibid. 5 NatureServe. 2003. Landcover Descriptions for the Southwest Regional GAP Analysis Project. Available at: http:// www. slco. org /watershed/pdfWLibr /landeoverS WRegionalGapAnalProj 2004.pdf. 6 Ibid. 7 U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2014. Colorado State- listed Noxious Weeds. Available at: http: // plants. usda. gov /java/noxious9iptType= State &statefips =08. Accessed March 2014. Technical Memorandum / S WCA Project No. 28487 4 April 11, 2014 King II Appendix 8 (5 )