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Wattenberg Lakes Amendment, Exhibit J-Vegetation Information May 2023 <br /> VEGETATION • ' • <br /> Prior to mining under the 2004 DRMS Permit, the Wattenberg Lakes site was a working ranch used primarily for <br /> livestock grazing with some areas cultivated for tree production and other crops. The site contained a mixture of <br /> open water, riparian,wetland, and upland habitats consisting of native vegetation. Cattail marsh, wet meadow, and <br /> stands of willow and mature cottonwoods were all found on the site. Native grasses including wheat grasses, <br /> switchgrass(Panicum virgatum), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and buffalograss(Bouteloua dactyloides)tended <br /> to dominate soils found in upland areas. Trees best suited for these upland soils include Rocky Mountain juniper <br /> (Juniperus scopulorum), eastern redcedar(Juniperus virginiana), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Siberian elm <br /> (Ulmus pumila), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), and hackberry (Celtis). The shrubs best suited are <br /> skunkbush (Rhus trilobata), sumac (Rhus), lilac (Syringa), Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens), and <br /> American plum (Prunus americana). <br /> Current vegetation information, obtained from a wetland survey for the site completed by ERO in June and August <br /> 2022, is presented in the Wetland Delineation Report produced from that survey (attached to this exhibit). The <br /> project area primarily consists of disturbed uplands dominated by kochia(Bassia scoparia), Canada thistle(Cirsium <br /> arvense), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), and foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), with patches of sandbar willow <br /> (Salix exigua) and plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides). Gravel pits of various sizes occur in the project area, <br /> with some containing open water and others that are dry. Wetlands are present throughout the project area, with <br /> the majority having established in the gravel mining cells. The Huett Ditch generally traverses the project area from <br /> south to north through the east side of the project area, before turning west at the north boundary; this seep/ditch <br /> consists primarily of narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) wetlands. Fringe wetlands are also located along the <br /> banks of the South Platte River. Most wetlands in the project area are dominated by pale smartweed (Persicaria <br /> lapathifolia), narrowleaf cattail, broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), and cosmopolitan bulrush (Schoenoplectus <br /> maritimus). <br /> Reclamation will involve establishing a mixture of open water, riparian, wetland, and upland habitats consisting of <br /> native vegetation. <br /> OTETRA TECH P a g e 1 1 <br />