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Surface Water Hydrology (4.05 and 4.07) <br />There are no perennial streams within the King Coal permit area. The surface facilities of the <br />King I and II Mines are located in ephemeral drainages that are tributary to Hay Gulch. Hay <br />Gulch does not have a stream channel in the vicinity of the permit area. Historically, surface <br />flow in Hay Gulch has been diverted into the irrigation ditch on the north side of the Gulch. This <br />ditch carries water that has been diverted from the La Plata River. Hay Gulch is a tributary of <br />the La Plata River, and their confluence is located about six miles downstream (southwest) from <br />the permit area. <br />Runoff from most of the undisturbed upper parts of drainages in King I and King II is diverted <br />around the disturbed areas through ditches and culverts. With the exception of runoff from main <br />haul roads, runoff from disturbed areas is passed through sediment control ponds which <br />discharge into Hay Gulch. <br />The King I workings extended southward beneath the Pine Gulch ephemeral drainage and other <br />small drainages. Pine Gulch flows into Hay Gulch approximately two miles downstream from <br />the permit area. Northwest of the King II Mine (overlying the workings of the OSMRE permit) <br />lies East Alkali Gulch, an ephemeral stream. East Alkali flows to the southwest and south, <br />ultimately joining Hay Gulch approximately seven miles downstream of the permit area. Two <br />of the proposed parcels surface runoff reports to East Alkali Gulch. <br />Additional information on surface water hydrology can be found in the permit application in <br />Sections 2.04.7, 2.05.3 and 2.05.6 and on Maps King I-007, King I-007a, and the King II — 007 <br />series of maps. <br />Climate (4.08) <br />The climate is semi -arid, characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and a limited amount of <br />precipitation each year. The prevailing winds are from the southwest and west with an average <br />annual precipitation rate varying from 15 to 19 inches. The growing season in the area varies <br />depending on elevation and exposure with a maximum of 96 frost -free days. <br />Soils (4.09) <br />Soil properties in the permit area vary widely depending on slope, aspect, and topographic <br />position. Deeper soils are found in the valley bottoms and on the tops of plateaus, while shallow <br />soils associated with rock outcrops dominate the side slopes. Two soil orders (Entisolls and <br />Aridisols) and one rock outcrop complex occur on the site. Both of the soil orders have an ustic <br />moisture regime. The results of soil analyses are provided in Appendix 6 of the PAP. <br />Vegetation (4.10) <br />The dominant vegetation in the King I and II Mine area is a mountain shrub community. Gambel <br />Oak is the most prominent shrub along the side slopes, forming dense stands. On the plateau top <br />above the King I Mine, the oak grows in clumps with open stands of grasses interspersed. A <br />juniper/pinyon community is found on the more xeric southern slopes, with scattered individuals <br />of Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine encountered on more mesic northern slopes. A <br />0 <br />