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TAB 4 <br />LAND USE <br />Introduction <br />The general purpose of Tab 4 is to document historical and present Land use relevant to the <br />Hayden Gulch coal loadout facility permit area. The information presented herein addresses <br />the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining at Rule <br />2.04.3. Additionally, Tabs 5 through 11 may be consulted for information regarding <br />specific environmental resources in and surrounding the permit area. <br />Specific objectives include: 1) presentation of land use maps and figures to provide a <br />geographic record of pre -operational land uses in the area; 2) presentation of information <br />concerning the capability and productivity of the land in terms of current and historic <br />uses; and 3) identification of existing land use plans and land use classifications <br />adopted under Local law in the region incorporating the permit area. <br />I* Regional land Use Patterns <br />Regional land use patterns are shown on Figure 1. Regional land use consists of <br />agriculture (irrigated and non -irrigated cropland, hay, or pasture land), rangeland <br />(Livestock grazing), wildlife habitat (recreation - hunting and fishing), <br />municipal/residential (farm houses, towns, etc.), and commercial/industrial (airport, power <br />plant, coal mining and handling facilities). <br />The most intensive agricultural uses are found in the Yampa River Valley. Irrigated <br />cropland and hayland are closely associated with the flood plain of the river. Limited <br />irrigated cropland areas are associated with tributaries to the Yampa where diversion <br />ditches have been constructed (e.g. Dry Creek). To the south of the Yampa River, dryland <br />small grains such as winter wheat are grown on the sloping upland surfaces. Within this <br />area, the steeper slopes and drainage bottoms are generally used as rangeland/wildlife <br />habitat. The area south of Township b North (approximately 4.5 miles south of Hayden, <br />Colorado) consists of hilly and mountainous terrain. The area is used primarily as <br />rangeland for sheep and cattle, and provides a variety of habitat for wildlife and <br />9 recreational opportunities. <br />11 <br />