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Springs and seeps are abundant in the area, with 59 originally identified during an inventory <br /> completed in 1985. A more recent inventory and study resulted in additional springs and seeps in <br /> the South Taylor and Lower Wilson areas. Four springs were found to be perennial, two tributary to <br /> Wilson Creek and two tributary to Good Spring Creek. The locations of all monitored springs and <br /> seeps are shown on Maps l0A and IOB of the PAP. Spring and seep information is included in <br /> Tables 2.05.6-1 and 2 in the PAP. <br /> No alluvial valley floors (AVFs) exist within the area to be mined. However, the alluvial deposits of <br /> Good Spring Creek, Wilson Creek, and lower Elkhorn Creek meet the geomorphic and irrigation <br /> criteria of an AVF. <br /> The Wilson Reservoir, from which water is drawn for mining activities, is an important fishery of <br /> the area. The Wilson Reservoir was built in 1941 and is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the <br /> Colorado Division of Water Resources. Except for a pumping station, the Wilson Reservoir is not <br /> within the permit area, and is not a part of the Permit. The pumping station at the reservoir, and the <br /> pipeline from the pumping station to the main areas of the Mine, are included in the Permit. <br /> 3.5 Vegetation <br /> Baseline vegetation information is found in Section 2.04.10 of Volume 1, Map 4, 4C and Exhibit 10 <br /> of the PAP. Vegetation information associated with the Lower Wilson and South Taylor expansion <br /> areas can be found in Section 2.04.10 of Volume 12, Exhibit 10 of Volume 12, and Maps 4, and 4C <br /> of the PAP. Vegetation information for the Collom area is found in Section 2.04.10 of Volume 15 <br /> and Map 4C of the PAP. Six vegetation communities and a small amount of cropland exist within the <br /> Mine permit boundary. The major communities are sagebrush and mountain shrub. Communities of <br /> lesser extent include a juniper community in the vicinity of Streeter Mountain; aspen groves in the <br /> upper reaches of Streeter, Taylor and Wilson Creeks; a limited riparian community along Good <br /> Spring, West Fork Good Spring, Wilson, and Taylor Creeks; and a small western wheatgrass <br /> community in the southern portion of the permit area. <br /> The sagebrush community occurs throughout the permit area on all elevations, slopes and soils. The <br /> community has developed wherever soil moisture retention and soil depth have become limiting to <br /> other vegetation communities. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and snowberry <br /> (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) dominate the overstory. Dominant grasses are western wheatgrass <br /> (Agroj2yron smithii), mountain brome (Bromus marginatus) and green needlegrass LaLipa viridula . <br /> Major forbs include lupine (Lupinus caudatus), wild onion Allium film_.), yarrow Achillea <br /> lanulosa and arrowleaf balsam root(Balsamorrhiza sagittata). <br /> The mountain shrub community is typically found on areas of higher soil moisture and deeper soils <br /> throughout the permit area. Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) and Gambel's oak uercus <br /> ambelii are the dominant overstory species in the community, with fairly dense stands of <br /> chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) occurring on north slopes and along drainages. The most abundant <br /> grasses are Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL western wheatgrass and needle and thread CaLipa <br /> comata). Forbs include lupine, yarrow, bedstraw Galium film_.) and American vetch Vicia <br /> americana . <br /> 18 <br /> Permit Revision No.5(PR-05),G 1981-019 <br />