2022-09-26_PERMIT FILE - M2022042 (9)

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Windsor East Mine, Exhibit J – Vegetation Information September 2022 P a g e 1 | 2 EXHIBIT J – VEGETATION INFORMATION 1.0 GENERAL The property is currently used primarily as irrigated agricultural land. Habitat types include grasslands (irrigated cropland) and a non-jurisdictional wetland area on the east side of the site. The Cache la Poudre River is directly south of Windsor East and its floodplain reaches into the southern portion of the site. 2.0 PRESENT VEGETATION TYPES The Windsor East Mine site is dominated by a monoculture of corn (Zea sp.), covering approximately 80 percent of the site. The perimeter of the mine site (19% of t he site) is an upland habitat with a mixture of native and non - native herbaceous species including western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), kochia (Bassia scoparia), and smooth brome (Bromus inermis ). Other herbaceous species in these areas included showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus ). Scattered trees and shrubs (generally less than 20 feet tall) at the periphery of herbaceous areas included plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ), rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), coyote willow (Salix exigua), and crack willow (Salix fragilis ). Approximately 1% of t he property contains a wetland area on the east edge along a drainage ditch. The US Army Corps of Engineers has determined this is non-jurisdictional waters. See attached letter as Exhibit J -1. 3.0 RELATIONSHIP OF PRESENT VEGETATION TO SOIL TYPES The Soil Survey of Weld County Area, Colorado published in 1980 by the USDA, Soil Conservation Service was used to identify soils at the site. The soil series types and their relationship with the vegetation types within the project area include: Irrigated Croplands: Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum (Map unit 3) - These are found near the eastern and southern border of the site. Aquolls and Aquents are deep, poorly drained soils that are formed in recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Soils typically have a mottled, mildly alkaline to moderately alkaline lo amy or clayey surface layer and are layer of sand and gravel to 48 inches. The water table is at or near the surface in spring and during peak irrigation season. Thus, these soils are subjected to excessive runoff. Ellicott-Ellicott sandy-skeletal complex, 0 – 3 percent (map unit 10) – These soils are found in a small section along the eastern border. Ellicott soils are deep, excessively drained soils. They are formed from noncalcareous, stratified sand alluvium. Typ ical surface layers consist of grayish brown loamy coarse sand ranging from 2 to 8 inches thick, underlain by light brownish gray coarse sand stratified with layers of sand to 60 inches. These soils have rapid permeability and have a rare frequency of floo ding. Runoff is classified as negligible. Colombo Clay Loam, 0 - 1 percent and 1 – 3 percent (map unit 19 and 20) – These soils are in the center of the site. Colombo Clay Loam soils are deep, well drained soils on flood plains and terraces, formed in s tratified calcareous alluvium. Typical surface layers consist of dark grayish brown clay loam about 14 inches thick underlain by a layer of very pale brown loam stratified with lenses of fine sand, medium sand and clay loam to 60 inches. Colombo c lay loam soils have moderate permeability and high available water capacity. Surface runoff is low and erosion hazard is low.