Laserfiche WebLink
Exhibit J <br /> Page 1 <br /> EXHIBIT J <br /> VEGETATION INFORMATION <br /> Per Rule 6.4.10— Vegetation Information: <br /> (1) The Operator/Applicant shall include in this Exhibit a narrative of the following items: <br /> A description of present vegetation types, which include quantitative estimates of cover and height for the <br /> principal species in each life form represented(Le.,trees,tall shrubs,low shrubs,grasses,forbs); <br /> The Permit Area and surrounding area are comprised of relatively flat to gently rolling grassland,with elevations <br /> ranging from approximately 4,600 ft.above mean sea level(amsl)to 4,790 ft. amsl. The Permit Area is located <br /> within the High Plains Level III Ecoregion,classified further as Flat to Rolling Plains within that Ecoregion <br /> (Chapman et al.,2006).The High Plains Ecoregion is characterized by rolling plains and grasslands situated at a <br /> relatively high elevation.Native vegetation in this Ecoregion consists of short-grass or mixed-grass prairie species, <br /> scrub,and some sagebrush steppe.Consistent with the aerial imagery,approximately 3,760 acres(approximately 93 <br /> percent)of land cover within the Study Area is classified as grassland herbaceous by the National Land Cover <br /> Database.Approximately 230 acres(6 percent)are classified as shrub/scrub. The remaining approximately 30 acres <br /> (1 percent)are classified as developed open space;developed low intensity;and developed medium intensity. <br /> Vegetation field investigations were conducted over the extent of the Permit Area on October 16 and October 20, <br /> 2023,and were done concurrently with wetland delineations.Field crews used GPS units to navigate to the center of <br /> each quarter-section to establish sample vegetation plots. Species composition and percent cover were recorded and <br /> photographed within 5-foot radius plots for herbaceous species and 30-foot radius plots for tree and shrub cover <br /> estimates. Refer to the Vegetation Survey Plots map provided in Exhibit J-1. <br /> Vegetation across the Site is characterized as grassland with several gravel well pads and roadways interspersed <br /> throughout the Site.Herbaceous species comprised of approximately 77 percent cover of the Permit Area with the <br /> remaining area shrubs(5 percent)and bare ground(18 percent). Trees were absent within the Permit Area.Four <br /> non-native species(cheatgrass [Bromus tectorum],burning brush [Bassia scoparia],foxtail millet[Setaria italica], <br /> and Russian thistle [Salsola tragus])comprised approximately 62 percent of the total herbaceous cover. Russian <br /> thistle represented over 50 percent cover of the herbaceous species on Site and was present in each vegetated <br /> herbaceous plot. <br /> The Permit Area is comprised of a relatively homogenous landscape;no wetlands and one former stock pond feature <br /> were identified within the Permit Area. Saltgrass(Distichlis spicata)was present in the National Wetlands Inventory <br /> mapped wetlands,but hydric soil indicators were absent and hydrologic indicators were only marginally present. <br /> One 0.38-acre manmade stock pond was delineated along an ordinary high-water mark consisting of a defined bank <br /> situated above mud cracks. The stock pond contained no water at the time of the survey,and vegetation was mostly <br /> absent except for intermittent patches of saltgrass and kochia(Bassia scoparia)along and above the ordinary high <br /> water mark bench. <br /> Colorado Sand Company II, LLC <br /> Kersey Mine Construction Material Regular(112)Operation Reclamation Permit Application <br /> June 7,2024 <br />