Laserfiche WebLink
442 acres to the north and west of the previously approved permit area was conducted. The Order <br /> 1 survey was conducted in 1998. Map unit designations differ from previous surveys due to <br /> changes made in NRCS soil taxonomy. Map 2.04.9-1 delineates the soil mapping units associated <br /> with the various surveys. Dominant map units identified in the 1998 survey include Bowbac- <br /> Bowdish Complex, 0 to 3% slopes, Darvey-Bari complex, 0 to 3% slopes, and Monierco Fine <br /> Sandy Loam, 0 to 10% slopes, and Haplargids — Endoaquepts association, 0 to 3 percent slopes. <br /> The Bowbac-Bowdish and Darvey-Bari complex units were used primarily for irrigated hayland <br /> or pastureland. The Darvey-Bari complex(Mapping Unit 98E) dominates that portion of the PR- <br /> 5 expanded permit area located south of BB Road and west of 2700 road. As discussed under <br /> Prime Farmland Determinations below, the Darvey-Bari soils have since been determined to be <br /> Prime. <br /> El. Prime Farmland Determinations <br /> Two areas have been designated as having prime farmlands. The first is located on the Morgan <br /> Property, south of BB Road and west of 2700 Road. This area is delineated on Map 2.04.9— <br /> Soils Baseline as soil map unit 98E. It comprises 87.03 acres. <br /> The second area is a small portion north of BB Road and west of 2700 Road. This area is <br /> delineated on Map 2.04.9—Soils Baseline as soil map unit 98A . This second area designated as <br /> prime farmland is located immediately south of Tuttle draw, and was managed as a grass pasture <br /> prior to mining. Pond 13 was constructed on the west side of this soil parcel. Topsoil stockpile <br /> 4 is located to the east of Pond 13. This area is geographically cut off from being managed as a <br /> larger field, and has no permanent roads providing access to this less than 5 acre parcel. No <br /> established irrigation structures are currently established in this area. The area disturbed by Pond <br /> 13, and topsoil stockpile 4 account for 3.96 acres. <br /> PR9 proposes to establish 4 acres of prime farmland on the west side of an established irrigated <br /> pasture, Lloyd West, or reclamation Parcel IP-11 (2020 ARR map 1). Establishment of prime <br /> farmland acreage adjacent to the established field allows for already established access, <br /> utilization of existing irrigation structures, and ease of management. <br /> Topsoil replacement on the proposed four acre parcel of prime farmland is Section 36, would be <br /> conducted as described in permit section 2.05.4(2)(d) at a topsoil replacement thickness of 24 <br /> inches. The operator will conduct topsoil fertility testing prior to seeding in accordance with <br /> Table 2.05.4(2)(d)-5. The Division concurs that locating the prime farmland parcel in Section 36 <br /> in a logically manageable unit would be a good utilization of the topsoil resource. <br /> F. Vegetation and Land Use <br /> The natural vegetation in the Nucla area was pinyon-juniper woodland and Great Basin <br /> sagebrush. More than 100 years of intensive agricultural activity in the area has resulted in only <br /> scattered remnants of the native vegetation types. Prior to the agricultural conversion, sagebrush <br /> shrublands occupied the park-like areas with deeper soils and more gentle slopes while the more <br /> broken upland areas with shallow coarse textured soils were occupied by the pinyon-juniper <br /> woodlands. <br /> 6 <br />