2014-11-06_PERMIT FILE - C1981014 (2)

Home Browse Search

C~ 1.0 IN TRODJCT I OT: 1.1 Provisions of Reuort This veeetation inventory was produced for the existing Dorchester No. 1 mine permit area in accordance with regulations of the United States Department of Interior, Office of Surface Minine (OSM) and the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Hoard (CP'LRB). Provisions of the report include the inventory and mapping of vegetation types present on the permit area (Figure 1), the identification of veeetation types affected by past and proposed minine operations, the establishment of reference areas for affected veeetation types, and the analysis of those areas in terms of vegetation cover and woody plant density. Productivity data for the reference areas will be collected during the 1981 erowing season. The entire permit area is a heavily used cattle grazing area. The reference areas will be fenced before the start of the 1981 growing season so that accurate productivity data can be obtained. • 1.2 Location and TopoaraohY The permit site is located southwest of Florence, Colorado. The terrain within the oermit area is composed of several mesa tops and small ridges which extend eastward from the foothills. The elevation ranges from 6100-6775 feet. Vegetation type is influenced primarily by slope, exposure, soil type, and available moisture. See Figure 1, Vegetation R".ap. 1.3 Reeional Ecological Characteristics Climate of the region is characterized by cold winters and warm summers with precipitation less than potential evapotran- spirationr an arid climate by definition. The permit area is primarily located in a ponderosa pine- pinyon-juniper woodland zone located between a ponderosa pine- douglas fir zone in the foothills to the west and the short grass prairie to the east. Three major vegetation types are found in the permit areas riparin. grassland. and ponderosa pine-pinyon- juniper woodland. The permit area has been extensively disturbed by previous mining, ranching, and other development activities. • ~ 2-1