2018-01-03_PERMIT FILE - C1994082 ‎(10)‎

• Permit No: C1994082
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 1/3/2018
• Section_Exhibit Name: TAB 04 LAND USE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Premining Land Use
Premining land use on the Yoast permit area and associated haul road has been
agriculturally based either for livestock or crop production. Crop production has been
the more common use in the haul road corridor, while livestock grazing has predominated in
the mine permit area. Both the haul road corridor and the mine permit area provide
habitat that is used by a variety of wildlife species. As defined in Section 1.04 of the
Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining, the following
land uses have been identified: cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and fish and wildlife
habitat. Table 4-1 lists the acreage by land use category for the Yoast Mine permit area.
Cropland. Cropland occurs on gently to moderately sloping uplands on or adjacent to the
haul road corridor. Sols predominating in these cropland areas are the Binco silty clay
loam, the Aaberg clay, and the Buckskin clay loam. These fine textured soils are derived
from shale parent material. Included in the cropland category are formerly cropped areas
which are now in perennial vegetation under the USDA-ASCS CRP program. These CRP lands
occur on similar topography and soils as do currently cropped areas. Cropland areas are
illustrated on Exhibit 4-1.
Cropping on or adjacent to the permit area is restricted to dryland production of small
grains, principally winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). Summer fallowing is practiced since
sufficient moisture for annual cropping is not dependable. Summer fallowing requires that
a field remain uncropped during a full growing season. During the fallow period, fields
are periodically tilled to control vegetation growth and recharge the soil profile with
sufficient moisture for crop production. Annual grain production has been practiced for
many years in this fashion within the region. County yields are averaging 25.1 bushels
per acre for winter wheat (USDA-ASCS Routt County Office, August 1994). The average yield
for winter wheat on cropland occurring within the northern portion of the haul road
corridor is 25 bushels per acre (Bob Barnes, personal communication, June 1994).
Soils limitations, topography, climate, and cropping practices have contributed to
increased erosion of these cropland areas due to their moderate water and high wind
erosion potential. The commonly cropped soils listed above have a Land Capability
Classification of 4e with small inclusions having a 6e classification. Lands classed as
4e have severe limitations that require careful management practices. These lands are
susceptible to erosion hazards. Class 6e lands are unsuited for cultivation and should be
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