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Baseline Technical Report <br /> ARCADIS Report for Soils and Biological <br /> Resources, MLE2 Project Area <br /> 3.4 Natural Grassland <br /> Natural grasslands account for approximately 164 acres (39 percent of the entire <br /> survey area) and occur in Sections 2, 3, 4, and 6. This vegetation community is the <br /> most frequent of communities in the survey area. Natural grasslands in the survey <br /> area have a species composition and density that has not been substantially <br /> changed as a result of disturbance. Cover is relatively high and ranges from 60 to 90 <br /> percent. Natural grasslands occur on gentle slopes with a southern exposure. <br /> Dominant species include Parry's oatgrass (Danthonia parryi), junegrass (Koelaria <br /> macrantha), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), mountain muhly (Muhlenbergia <br /> Montana), squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), western wheatgrass (Pascopyron smithii), <br /> bearded wheatgrass, and Arizona fescue. Grassy slope sedge (Carex oreocharis) <br /> (once considered a rare species by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, but not <br /> currently) occurs relatively frequently in this vegetation community type on granitic <br /> soils. Noxious weeds are generally not present or are sporadic in nature within <br /> natural grasslands. <br /> 3.5 Disturbed Grassland <br /> Disturbed grasslands account for approximately 10 acres (two percent of the entire <br /> survey area), occurring primarily in Section 6, adjacent to an active mine site. These <br /> grasslands have been disturbed in historical times (primarily as a result of older <br /> mining activities) and continue to be disturbed by ranching practices (cattle grazing) <br /> and road construction/adjacent mining operations. Disturbed grasslands occur on <br /> gentle slopes with a southern exposure in the survey area. The composition, density, <br /> and cover of vegetation (30-60 percent) have been substantially altered. Dominant <br /> species include Kentucky bluegrass, western wheatgrass, squirreltail, redtop <br /> (Agrostis stolonifera), junegrass, green needlegrass, Arizona fescue, and smooth <br /> brome (Bromopsis inermis). Several noxious weed species are present, including but <br /> not limited to Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), and <br /> dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica). <br /> 3.6 Riparian Woodland <br /> Riparian woodlands (as mapped) account for only 5 acres (one percent of the entire <br /> survey area); however, this community was not observed during the survey. <br /> Saturated drainages/wetlands were also not observed due to the late-summer <br /> (typically dry) timing of the survey. As such, riparian vegetation that may normally be <br /> present during the spring was not observed during this late-summer survey. If <br /> missed, but potentially present within the survey area, dominant tree may species <br /> CCV Baseline Soils Biology Resource Report(11-17-11).doc 13 <br />