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season for the area in the vicinity of Craig averages 77 frost-free days. <br /> Soil Types, Characteristics and Distribution <br /> Three soil orders are found in the permit area: <br /> 1. Aridisols <br /> 2. Entisols <br /> 3. Mollisols. <br /> Characteristic of fairly steep, semi-arid regions of northwestern Colorado, they represent soils <br /> grading from recently developed soil bodies with minimum horizon development(Entisols) to older <br /> soils comprising well defined diagnostic horizons (Mollisols). Overall, the soils found in the permit <br /> area are relatively deep and well drained exhibiting effective rooting depth ranges from two to sixty <br /> inches. The deepest soils yielding the greatest rooting depths occur in valleys and on the leeward <br /> sides of ridges. Soil reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline over the permit area with the <br /> exception of inclusions of small scattered areas with saline substrata. These small areas have <br /> probably formed in place from weathered sodic shale. <br /> Vegetation Distribution <br /> Vegetation in the area grows largely in response to macro-climatic influences of the region. The <br /> north-facing slopes,having moderate to deep soils characterize a relatively mesic moisture regime <br /> and favorable levels of insolation throughout the year, exhibit well-developed mountain shrub <br /> communities. On colluvial toe slopes, communities dominated by sagebrush and grasses occur. <br /> On the south-facing slopes behind the ridgeline of the Williams Fork Mountains, vegetative <br /> communities are less developed with respect to cover, density, and production due to the less <br /> favorable soils, moisture regime, and increased solar insolation. The trend in these areas is toward <br /> communities dominated by juniper,pinon, mountain mahogany and xerophytes. <br /> Historical farming and ranching within the current permit area modified, to varying degrees, natural <br /> vegetative communities. Much of the land along toe-slopes and valley bottoms was cleared of native <br /> vegetation and is currently used for dry land agriculture. Most of the north-facing slopes in the area <br /> have been historically used for the grazing of sheep and/or cattle. These activities produced a <br /> mosaic of vegetation communities in the permit area comprised of mountain shrub, sagebrush/grass, <br /> and pinon/juniper. <br /> Wildlife <br /> Fauna are diverse in and adjacent to the permit area due to the wide variety of habitat types and <br /> include: Antelope, Mule deer, Elk, Blue grouse, Columbian sharp-tail grouse, and sage grouse. All <br /> are residents or occasional residents of the permit area, as are numerous types of waterfowl, song <br /> birds and raptors. The area provides habitat and migration routes for antelope, elk and mule deer. <br /> Raptors, several species of game birds, and numerous smaller mammals are found in the Williams <br /> Fork Mountains and surrounding areas. <br /> Land Uses <br /> Land uses in the area are rangeland, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Cattle and sheep graze in the <br /> Williams Fork Mountains. Dry land wheat is cultivated on colluvial toe slopes of the Williams Fork <br /> Mountains. Native hay and dry land wheat are cultivated on the soils of the Yampa and Williams <br /> Fork River valleys. <br /> 8 <br />