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RBBW) went of Dry Creak. These areas were taken out of crop prodtictian n number of years prior <br />to construction of the loadout facility. They have bean seeded with various introduced species <br />such es smooth br+ome, in*~~~++ate whmtgrass and crested whmtgrass and now function ae <br />. rangeland. The majority of the disturbanw associated with construction of the loadout occurred <br />in this type oP abandoned cropland. North o£ the Walker Ditch, improved pasture is the primary <br />use. These fields era probably subirrigated but have been irrigated in the past and continue to <br />haVB that capability. HOweVerr managemailt dose not appmr t0 be lntei191VB and Only ditche9 In <br />the pasture north of U. S. 40 appear to have had any recent maintenance. <br />Rangala~/wildlife Habitat. Rangeland is present in Dry Creek, areas met of Dry Creak in <br />section 14, and along the rail spur north to the cropland areas in section 10 (nee Exhibit 4-1 <br />and Tab 10). Theca areas era dominated by sagebrush, greaeewood and rubber rabbitbrush <br />communities. The topography ranges from alkaline flag to rolling hills. Liveato~r grazing has <br />been the primary use of these rangeland erase, however the c.,~.-1,: , capacity ie generally low. <br />Historic grazing pressure has been heavy in the Dzy Creek n.~;..~ and the adjacent alkaline <br />Elate. A variety o£ wildlife species use the rangeland habitat and seeded cropland arms (sae <br />Tab 11). Hig game, small game and upland gamebird hunting occurs in the arse. <br />Industrial. With oompletian of the loadout facility and rail spur, the primary um in the permit <br />area hoe bean industrial. While operation of the loadout zeatricted livestock grazing, <br />incidental use by wildlife continued. During temporary aeeaation of operations at the loadaut, <br />liveatDCk grazing hss again bBen practiced. Resumption oP normal operations will restrict all <br />grazing within the area of the loadout facility. Inspection of the proposed facility permit area <br />revealed no evidence of pravioua '^ ,activities. <br />Industrial or aaex+~+al land uses in close prox+T+ty to the proposed permit arm include the <br />Yampa Valley Airport situated from 0.25 to 0.75 miles north and east of the permit arm, Peabody <br />Western Coal Company' a tie-across haul road situated just south and east of the permit area <br />(Exhibit 4-1), and the Routt County Road and 8ridga Department maintenance shop located <br />immediately west of the loadrnrt facility area slang existing haul road HGT,F-HR1. <br />Residential. The town oP Hayden is aitvated approximately two miles northwest of that portion of <br />the proposed permit arm that oontaina the loadout Facilities (opal handling) and 0.25 miles west <br />of the rail am (Exhibit 4-1). Scattered single Family dwellings <br />sw6~l.P Z) <br />~'n~-D/ <br />.5 Revised 2/98 <br />