Laserfiche WebLink
are known to exist. <br />No known fossils of significance have been found on or near the project area. The Mesa Verde <br />Group yields sparse faunas of both marine and non -marine elements. No study exists with specific <br />reference to the botanical fossils related to the Menefee coals nor on the non -marine invertebrates <br />on the associated units (Fischer, 1951). <br />WATER <br />The topographic surface of the project area consists of a plateau between East Alkali Gulch. Hay <br />Gulch and "No Name Gulch" to the southeast. These are ephemeral drainages of variable gradient. <br />Surface water within these drainages occurs as a result of seasonal spring runoff and following <br />summer/fall storm events. The project area is not in a major ground water recharge area. Mining <br />activity in the project area would occur approximately 40 feet above the piezometric surface, which <br />is static water level. <br />VEGETATION <br />No onsite investigations were conducted of the proposed project area. The following information <br />is excerpted from the COC 60941 Coal Lease Application EA (1997), and generally describes the <br />project area. <br />"The general project area consists of pasture and mountain shrub type vegetation along <br />with pinon juniper. The most prominent shrubs include Gambol oak ercus ambelir , <br />Mountain mahogany (Cercocargus m ntanus , and Utah serviceberry (Amelanchier <br />utahensis . Other important shrubs include Antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata , <br />Squaw -apple (Peraahvllum ramostssimum), and Green ephedra (E—phedra �Kridir . <br />Scattered pinyon pine Pinus edulis and Utah juniper unia utahensis occui on the <br />more xeric sites, while scattered ponderosa pine nuonder sa and Douglas fir <br />(P,Leu&4stwa menziesit occur on the more mesic sites. Important species in the <br />understory include bluegrass (Poa _W.), western wbeatgrassA o ron smithi; , <br />bottiebrush squirreltail Sitanion h Jst; u , yucca Yucca baccata), and rrilkvetch <br />(Astragalus spm.). <br />Portions of the project area have undergone various vegetation treatments including chaining, <br />buming, and herbicide application. <br />WILDLIFE <br />The project area is diverse in wildlife habitats. Although the project area is primarily composed of <br />the mountain shrub type vegetative community, portions are also covered by pinon juniper and <br />pasture types as well. Time project area is located in important winter range for deer and elk. <br />THREATENED/ENDANGERED SPECIES <br />P* <br />