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ERC Strear Soil Mine <br /> Preliminary Environmental Assessment <br /> includes all land being actively tilled. The cultivated cropland community within the survey comprises <br /> relatively flat agricultural fields currently planted with row crops consisting primarily of corn (Zea sp.). <br /> The agricultural fields appear to be regularly plowed and/or tilled and subject to flood irrigation <br /> practices throughout the growing season. <br /> Due to the historic land use for agricultural production, the survey area may be somewhat degraded <br /> which makes it difficult to identify the native plant community that would otherwise be present. The <br /> vegetation community across the survey area is similar, consisting of corn crop and/or bare ground from <br /> historic agricultural land use. <br /> A few fallow, unplanted areas exist outside the edges of the cultivated crop circles, around the corners <br /> of the survey area. These areas are dominated by non-native and ruderal herbaceous species such as <br /> cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), and prickly lettuce (Lactuca <br /> serriola) intermixed with few other non-dominant herbaceous species comprising anywhere from 20- <br /> 95%ground cover with the remaining ground cover comprised of exposed surface soil. <br /> Disturbed <br /> The Disturbed community comprises the remaining areas outside of the corn crop circles within the <br /> survey area. The disturbed areas consist of all three corners of the survey area, including a mining <br /> quarry and energy facility in the southwest corner, as well as Farmers Independent Ditch and irrigation <br /> ponds along the western border, and a residential area on the eastern border. These features consist of <br /> barren grounds associated with mining and industrial use, closely cropped vegetation such as lawns, <br /> landscaping and earthen roads (NatureServe 2024). <br /> 5 <br />