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permitting of the Snowstorm Placer. ibis conclusion is based on the observation of volunteer vegetation <br />growing on the cut slopes along the western side of the VO1S Filing and on the eastern side of the Snowstorm <br />property and Throughout the valley bottom. Some of this vegetation consists of small Trees such as aspen and <br />spruce or fir. Some of these trees are rather large (7.0.30 feeU indicating that they hove been there for quite a <br />perioU of time. Other vegetation types include grasses and small forbs scattered across the valley bottom and <br />along some of the cut slopes. What This indicates to staff is Thor the excavation likely occurred during the <br />period when dredge mining was taking place or possibly sometime aRer That. but prior to issuance of the <br />present permit. Some of the areas are still fairly devoid of vegetation but contain tree litter in the form of small <br />frees trunks ancf branches scattered across the cut slopes. II this were a fresh excavation this material would not <br />be present. Base-d on These observations. if is the Division's opinion Thal This excavation did not occur recently <br />anU is probably not related to the currently perrnilted Snowstorm Placer, therefore. no additional action will be <br />taken with respect to this complaint other than to require the re-marking of the permit boundaries. <br />Purttx3rmore, it future excavotions are to occur in This area. the permit will need to be amended to include <br />additionol effected urea since the approved permit application only allows for 79.5 affected acres within the <br />approximately 260 acre permit. Although it is clear there is much more than 80 acres presently "disturbed" on <br />this site. most of this occurred pre~tow os the result of the dredge mining and was not included as affected <br />ocreaye during the modern permitting process. <br />