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Climatology <br /> The permit area receives less than nine inches of precipitation annually and is characterized by <br /> moderately cold winters and warm summers. Average temperatures range between 27 deg. F in <br /> the winter and 79 deg. F in the summer, with relatively even distribution of precipitation during <br /> the year. <br /> The average speed and direction of the prevailing winds in the permit area is 8.0 mph from the <br /> southwest. <br /> Vegetation <br /> Baseline vegetation discussion is found in Tab 10. The baseline description of the vegetation of <br /> the Roadside portals states that, a large portion of the mesa top located south east of the South <br /> portals had been homesteaded in the past. It appeared that the area had either been cultivated or <br /> heavily grazed in the past. The 1982 baseline report noted that the condition at the time of the <br /> 1982 evaluation numerous successional stages of the original big sagebrush and shadscale <br /> vegetation had re-established. Recent disturbances contained monocultures of Russian thistle, <br /> while other less disturbed areas showed a re-establishment of sagebrush or shadscale. <br /> The mesas and the valley slopes at the canyon base support sparse salt desert vegetation, including <br /> grasses such as galleta(Hilaria 'a1 mesii), indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) and squirrel tail <br /> (Sitanion hystrix) and shrubs such as winterfat (Ceratoides lanata), shadscale (Atriplex <br /> confertifolia), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and fourwing saltbrush (Atriplex canescens). <br /> The riparian zone adjacent to the Colorado River supports a variety of grasses, shrubs and trees, <br /> including willows (Salix sp.), cottonwoods (Po ulus sp.), salt cedar (Tamarix parviflora), <br /> Greasewood(Sarcobatus vermiculatus), and bluegrass (Poa sp.). <br /> Wildlife <br /> Canyon walls in the permit area provide potential raptor nesting sites, and peregrine falcon nesting <br /> has been documented in the permit area in recent years. The river is used by waterfowl during <br /> migration, wintering and nesting seasons. Western portions of the permit area provide winter <br /> range for mule deer, and overlap a portion of a federally designated wild horse management area. <br /> During winter months,bald eagles have been observed along the Colorado River through DeBeque <br /> Canyon. Four species of threatened or endangered fish may potentially inhabit the Colorado River <br /> in this area. These are the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow,razorback sucker, and humpback chub. <br /> Additional information on the wildlife in the area can be found in Tab 11 of the permit application. <br /> Land Use <br /> Due to the long mining history of the area, and the previous existence of the Cameo Power Plant <br /> adjacent to the North Portal mine facilities, land use along the river and I-70 corridor in the mine <br /> vicinity is industrial. Wildlife habitat is the primary use on adjacent dry uplands and tributary <br /> 11 <br />