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New Elk Mine (C-1981-012) <br />and the river valley were inventoried and found to contain four distinct vegetative communities at the <br />New Elk Mine area: a Ponderosa pine -Douglas fir -oak community (Pinus ponderosa - Pseudotsuga <br />menziesii), a Ponderosa pine -oak community (Pinus ponderosa - Quercus gambelii), a grassland community, <br />and a riparian willow (Salix XX) carr community. The Ponderosa pine -Douglas fir -oak community <br />(Pinus ponderosa - Pseudotsuga menziesh, Quercus gambelii), is found on the north -facing slope above the mine <br />facilities at elevations above 7,600 feet. The overstory consists of mature Ponderosa pine and Douglas <br />fir with interspersed Pinon pine (Pinus XX) and Rocky Mountain juniper, (Juniperus scopulorum). The <br />dominant shrub species is Quercus gambelii, (Gambel's oak). <br />Vegetative cover is relatively sparse (12 percent) and productivity is low (62 lb/ac). The Ponderosa <br />pine -oak community occurs on the north facing slopes above 7,500 feet on the eastern two-thirds of the <br />permit area. Pure Pinus ponderosa stands are interspersed with Quercus gambelii), Pinus XX and Juniperus <br />scopulorum. Vegetative cover is low at (4 percent), as is productivity at (44 lb/ac). Since no undisturbed <br />grassland communities could be found at the New Elk Mine, the grassland community was inventoried <br />at the adjacent Golden Eagle Mine on a plateau above the river at 7,200 feet elevation. Dominant grass <br />species were Bouteloua gracilis (blue gramma), and Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass), with many <br />other minor graminoids including a number of forbs. Artemisia tridentate Nut (big sagebrush) and <br />Gutierrezia sarothrae (broom snakeweed) were the dominant shrubs. Vegetative cover can be <br />characterized as moderate (18 percent), as is productivity at (5 60 lb/ac). The Sale, (willow carr) <br />riparian community is located in the Purgatoire River drainage at an elevation of 7,400 feet at the New <br />Elk Mine. The dominant species was Salix XX with a diverse graminoid and forb understory. <br />Vegetative cover is high (43 percent), as is productivity (2,140 lb/ac). <br />Soils in the area range from very shallow on the steep side slopes to deep, well -drained loams with <br />a dark -colored surface layer found in the valley bottom along the Purgatoire River. <br />The Jansen Loadout is located in an unincorporated area on the west side of Trinidad, Colorado. <br />Land use of the site has been industrial for at least two decades. The site is located immediately north <br />of and adjacent to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad grade on a thin layer of <br />Purgatoire River alluvial deposits capping bedrock sedimentary formations. No intermittent, <br />ephemeral, or perennial drainages cross the site. An intermittent arroyo named Colorado Canyon <br />arroyo borders the site on the eastern boundary. This arroyo flows only during snowmelt episodes in <br />the spring or from storm runoff after summer thunderstorms. <br />Climate at the loadout is similar to that of the mine site, but slightly dryer due to lower elevation. <br />All soils and native vegetation have been previously removed from the loadout site. Weeds and <br />volunteer species persist, especially on the fringes of the disturbance. The site has no natural wildlife <br />habitat and the site is fenced to prevent access of domestic animals and big game. <br />New Elk Mine C1981 012 Mid Term 7 Page 7 <br />Date: August 2016 Prepared by: R. Reilley File location: M:\Coal\Findings <br />