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<br /> <br /> <br /> 13 C1981-041 RN7 findings <br /> <br />Climatology <br /> <br />The permit area receives less than nine inches of precipitation annually and is characterized by <br />moderately cold winters and warm summers. Average temperatures range between 27 deg. F in <br />the winter and 79 deg. F in the summer, with relatively even distribution of precipitation during <br />the year. <br /> <br />The average speed and direction of the prevailing winds in the permit area is 8.0 mph from the <br />southwest. <br /> <br />Vegetation <br /> <br />Baseline vegetation discussion is found in Tab 10. The baseline description of the vegetation of <br />the Roadside portals states that, a large portion of the mesa top located south east of the South <br />portals had been homesteaded in the past. It appeared that the area had either been cultivated or <br />heavily grazed in the past. The 1982 baseline report noted that the condition at the time of the <br />1982 evaluation numerous successional stages of the original big sagebrush and shadscale <br />vegetation had re-established. Recent disturbances contained monocultures of Russian thistle, <br />while other less disturbed areas showed a re-establishment of sagebrush or shadscale. <br /> <br />The mesas and the valley slopes at the canyon base support sparse salt desert vegetation, including <br />grasses such as galleta (Hilaria jamesii), indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) and squirrel tail <br />(Sitanion hystrix) and shrubs such as winterfat (Ceratoides lanata), shadscale (Atriplex <br />confertifolia), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and fourwing saltbrush (Atriplex canescens). <br />The riparian zone adjacent to the Colorado River supports a variety of grasses, shrubs and trees, <br />including willows (Salix spp.), cottonwoods (Populus spp.), salt cedar (Tamarix parviflora), <br />Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus), and bluegrass (Poa spp.). <br /> <br />Wildlife <br /> <br />Canyon walls in the permit area provide potential raptor nesting sites, and peregrine falcon nesting <br />has been documented in the permit area in recent years. The river is used b y waterfowl during <br />migration, wintering and nesting seasons. Western portions of the permit area provide winter <br />range for mule deer, and overlap a portion of a federally designated wild horse management area. <br />During winter months, bald eagles have been observed along the Colorado River through DeBeque <br />Canyon. Four species of threatened or endangered fish may potentially inhabit the Colorado River <br />in this area. These are the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and humpback chub. <br /> <br />Additional information on the wildlife in the area can be found in Tab 11 of the permit application. <br /> <br />Land Use <br /> <br />Due to the long mining history of the area, and the previous existence of the Cameo Power Plant <br />adjacent to the North Portal mine facilities, land use along the river and I-70 corridor in the mine <br />vicinity is industrial. Wildlife habitat is the primary use on adjacent dry uplands and tributary