2014-09-02_REVISION - C1981014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Map 15, Loadout Area Soils, and using these two AutoCAD files, results in the following soils mapping units corresponding to these reclamation areas being identified. Soils Mapping Unit 52 - Kim - Cascajo complex 2 to 15 percent slopes, 424,013 SF; Soils Mapping Unit 72 - Midway - Cascajo complex 10 to 40 percent slopes, 11,188 SF; and, Soils Mapping Unit 105 - Shanta loam dry, 0 to 3 percent slopes, 195,688 SF. Soils Mapping Unit 16 - Cascajo very gravelly sandy loam, 10 to 40 percent slopes, is found within the Southfield Mine Loadout Permit Area, but is not found within the reclamation area. The Soil Survey of Fremont County Area, Colorado, published by the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1995 reports that for Mapping Unit 52 - Kim - Cascajo complex 2 to 15 percent slopes, the Kim soil component, which typically occupies 60 percent of this complex corresponds to the Loamy Plains # 6 Range Site. The Cascajo soils' component typically accounts for 40 percent of this soils' mapping unit and corresponds to the Gravel Breaks # 64 Range Site. For Soils Mapping Unit 72 - Midway - Cascajo complex 10 to 40 percent slopes, the Midway component of this soils complex accounts for approximately 60 percent of this area and corresponds to the Gravel Breaks # 64 Range Site. The Cascajo soils' component typically accounts for 20 percent of this soils' mapping unit and corresponds to the Gravel Breaks # 64 Range Site. Soils Mapping Unit 105 - Shanta loam dry, 0 to 3 percent slopes and corresponds to the Overflow # 36 Range Site. Examination of the soils mapping unit descriptions found in the Soil Survey of Fremont County Area, Colorado, reveals that the site conditions do not fit the description of soils mapping unit 105. According to the NRCS, this soil type, typically occupies 0 to 3 percent slopes, which in almost all instances are too flat for the soils on this site. The NRCS also reports that these soils are "formed in alluvium" which does not occur on this site. These soils are typically found on "well drained soil ... on stream terraces" which are not found on this site. These soils are also reported to be "generally subject to rare, very brief periods of flooding from April through September." The NRCS also reports that "most areas of this soil are used for irrigated cropland" which is not found in this immediate area. They also report that "in a few areas, the water table rises to a depth of about 20 to 30 inches for brief periods in early summer." These conditions obviously do not occur within the areas mapping within the boundaries of soil mapping unit 105 on the Southfield Loadout Permit Area. A careful examination of these conditions reveals that this soils mapping unit either corresponds to inclusions of other soils, such as those listed above or else this soil's mapping is in error. According to Table 6, Rangeland and Woodland Understory Productivity and Characteristic Plant Communities found within the Soil Survey of Fremont County Area, Colorado, the Loamy Plains # 6 Range Site produces 800 pounds of air -dry forage per acre, the Gravel Breaks # 64 Range Site produces 750 pounds of air -dry forage per acre, and the Overflow # 36 Range Site produces approximately 1,400 pounds of air -dry forage per acre during normal precipitation years. Application of these values, results in the Loamy Plants # 6 Range Site corresponding to approximately 254,408 SF or 40.33 percent of this area. The Overflow # 36 corresponding to approximately 195,688 SF or 31.02 percent of this area. The Gravel Breaks # 36 corresponding to approximately 195,688 SF or 31.02 percent of this area.