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ERC Young Ranch Resource <br /> Aquatic Resource Delineation Report <br /> EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> This report summarizes the delineation of aquatic resources completed by Ecological Resource <br /> Consultants, Inc. (ERC)for the proposed Young Ranch Resource (Project). ERC conducted a formal routine <br /> onsite delineation of aquatic resources within the proposed Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br /> Safety (DRMS) Permit Boundary (survey area) which is situated along the eastern boundary of the <br /> approximately 4,500-acre Young Ranch Property. The survey area consists of approximately 469.7 acres <br /> within the Young Ranch Property.The proposed survey area is located west of Central City Parkway and is <br /> located in both Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties.A total of 0.075 acres of aquatic resources were identified <br /> and mapped within the survey area characterized as palustrine emergent non-persistent wetland, <br /> temporarily flooded (PEM2A) and a palustrine unconsolidated bottom, seasonally flooded/saturated <br /> wetland (PUB3E). Three aquatic resources were identified in the survey area and mapped as Aquatic <br /> Resource A, B and C. The general topography of the area consists of steep, rocky slopes within forested <br /> land and slope toward the north and south.Aquatic Resource A is a roadside swale situated in the southern <br /> portion of the survey area.As surface water flow occurs during high precipitation events, it is channelized <br /> into a roadside ditch where the water fans out into a topographical depression and eventually evaporates. <br /> Aquatic Resources B and C are ground water expressions situated east of Central City Parkway in a <br /> topographical drainage.As seasonal groundwater levels rise,these groundwater expressions surface.The <br /> ground water expressions briefly flow northeast before dissipating within uplands.The roadside Swale of <br /> Aquatic Resource A suggest that it is not jurisdictional or characterized as waters of the U.S. because it is <br /> not a tributary or does not have a significant nexus to a downstream traditional navigable water(TNW). In <br /> addition,ditches(including roadside ditches)excavated wholly in and draining in uplands that do not carry <br /> a relatively permanent flow of water are generally not waters of the U.S. Aquatic Resource B and C are <br /> likely not jurisdictional or considered a waters of the U.S. as it is not a tributary or does not have a <br /> significant nexus to a downstream TNW. The nearest jurisdictional feature is Clear Creek, a relatively <br /> permanent water(RPW) located 0.5 miles to the north.Throughout the drainage pockets of hydrophytic <br /> vegetation mixed with upland vegetation were observed, however did not exhibit wetland hydrology or <br /> hydric soils and therefore are not considered wetland. In addition, no ordinary high-water mark indicators <br /> were observed.The topographic drainage associated with Aquatic Resource B and Aquatic Resource C may <br /> experience overland flow from CCP and surrounding sloped uplands, but a channel with a bed and bank is <br /> not present. As such,there does not appear to be a significant nexus from Aquatic Resource A, B or C in <br /> the survey area to a potential TNW. The remaining portions of the survey area exhibit dry uplands <br /> dominated by coniferous forest and shrubland with upland and facultative upland plants such as Douglas <br /> fir, Rocky Mountain maple,wood's rose, and little bluestem. <br /> All areas that have been investigated in the field are mapped on the enclosed Aquatic Resource Delineation <br /> Map (Appendix A). <br />