2022-04-04_PERMIT FILE - M2022013 (28)

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Page 13 6.4.5 EXHIBIT I/J — Soils and Vegetation Information A portion of in situ soils may be used in an over the shoulder method to resoil the completed banks of basin slopes or other upland areas in time. Commonly, soils will be parked in stockpiles until ready for application in a manner more fully described below. Consistent with existing zoned agricultural practices, soil from an adjacent wetland bank was approved by the City of Evans, and completed in early 2021. The City of Evans approved (refer to the Addendum at the back of this Exhibit) the placement of these soils within the floodplain of the upper North-East portion of Central Field, as shown on Exhibit C-2: Extraction Plan Map. These orphan soils are in place, seeded, and the area remains under continuing agricultural production, yet are no longer part of the area floodplain. The current extent of this 200,000± cu.yd. stockpile is represented on Exhibit L: Financial Warranty Map. This stockpile location area will also receive a portion of soils removed from planned extraction locations over other areas of Central and North-West Fields. It should be noted that a monoculture of cultivated corn occupies a majority of the planned areas of extraction, and will gradually be turned out of production through extraction. This soil may be utilized to line the resulting basins, for reclamation of affected lands above the static water level, or for market as warranted. At this time there is little to find in dominant preferred species of cover typifying the cropped fields or riverine areas. Beyond the row crops, the former pasturelands appear impacted by overgrazing, monocultures of smooth brome, annuals, and other comparatively recent impacts. Reclamation will not return the former Fields to agricultural crop production. Further, present day impacts over the planned Processing and Wash Pond locations do not reflect representative or realistic percent cover of a desirable matrix of native vegetation communities intended for reclamation. Consequently, the reclamation target will be to establish a stabilizing foliar cover of predominantly native vegetation (refer to seed mixture) of approximately 20 percent [determined as measured at the stem three inches above the ground surface respective of the foliar diameter of the established grass species, as determined by ocular estimates, or utilizing standard vegetation cover analysis such as line transect, as warranted]. For clarity, topsoil is generally regarded as the plow layer (upper six inches) on agricultural soils, or the A-1 soil profile horizon otherwise. The solum, or soil, includes the topsoil plus all other material found above the regolith of the parent rock, and generally no deeper than the optimal depth of roots of perennial plants and trees, or which otherwise meets the definition of soil. One soil differs from another soil by its unique properties and characteristics (such as horizon profile development, structure, texture, color, percent organic matter, chemical composition, etc.) and is identified as such by soil scientists, and detailed in available SCS (NRCS) Soil Survey documents. The affected soils to be extracted as permitted are designated under the soil survey to fall predominantly under Unit 3: Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum; and may include minor components of Unit 10: Blankard sandy loam (refer to extracts and tables from the 1980 Weld County Soil Survey — Southern Part). Occurring in flood plain locations, as they do at this location, while described as deep,'would apply more commonly to the Mollisols that appear to form a minor component of the area soils, while the majority of the location is more characteristic of Aquolls, Aquent or Entisol soil formations, which are commonly poorly formed soils in floodplain locations, and lacking a typical profile or horizon development; or, in the case of the Blankard Series, having a shallow A-profile of 0-5 inches in depth overlying sand and gravel. The lack of a VARRA COMPANIES, INC. TWO RIVERS SAND GRAVEL AND RESERVOIR PROJECT MARCH 2O22 A REGULAR IMPACT[1121 CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION-COLORADO DIVISION OF RECLAMATION MIING&SAFETY OFFICE OF MINED LAND RECLAMATION