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Page 11 of 27 <br /> Natural springs, seeps and spoil springs are detailed in the Annual Reclamation Report submitted to <br /> DRMS. <br /> Soil Types Characteristics and Distribution <br /> The permit area is occupied by three soil orders: Aridisols,Entisols, and Mollisols. These soil orders are <br /> characteristic of fairly steep, semi-arid regions of northwestern Colorado. They represent soils that grade <br /> from recently developed soil bodies with minimum horizon development(Entisols)to older soils with <br /> well-defined diagnostic horizons (Mollisols). <br /> Overall,the soils found in the proposed permit area are relatively deep and fairly well-drained. Effective <br /> rooting depth varies from two to sixty inches within the area. The deepest soils yielding the greatest <br /> rooting depths occur in valleys and on the leeward sides of ridges. Soil reaction is slightly acid to <br /> moderately alkaline in the permit area with the exception of small, scattered areas where substrata are <br /> saline. These small areas have probably formed in place from weathered sodic shales. <br /> Vegetation Distribution <br /> Vegetation communities in the permit area range from an upland mountain shrub community to <br /> cottonwood-willow communities in the riparian zone next to the Williams Fork and Yampa Rivers. <br /> Juniper or big sagebrush communities dominate more xeric sites throughout the permit area. Lands <br /> disturbed by mining are upland big sagebrush and mountain shrub communities, croplands, and <br /> previously mined lands. The croplands are previously mined lands. There are two types of croplands: <br /> 1. irrigated hayfields in the fertile river bottom areas,and <br /> 2. dryland wheat, found on cleared hillsides which were once sage-dominated. Several areas <br /> disturbed by former mining operations are within the disturbed areas. <br /> Wildlife <br /> Wildlife habitat in the permit area is diverse. It is used extensively by mule deer, elk and pronghorn <br /> antelope. Known predators include badger, cougar, coyote, red fox and bobcat. Small game and <br /> furbearing mammals include the cottontail rabbit,white tailed jackrabbit, raccoon,beaver,muskrat, <br /> striped skunk and weasel. Many species of birds are also found within the permit boundary. Of special <br /> interest are various species of waterfowl, raptors (including the golden and bald eagles),the sandhill <br /> crane, Columbian sharptail grouse and the Greater sage grouse. Fish species in the Williams Fork River, <br /> within the affected area,include various suckers and minnows,mottled sculpin,rainbow trout and <br /> mountain whitefish. <br /> Land Uses <br /> Land uses within the surface disturbed area are cropland,pastureland and rangeland/wildlife habitat. <br /> Mining has occurred within the permit area since the 1930s. Much of the area has been previously <br /> disturbed by surface and/or underground mining activities. The Williams Fork Mines have been in <br /> existence since 1971. <br /> Williams Fork Mines Prepared by: R Reiney M.S. GISP <br /> C1981044 December 2023 <br />