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<br />-5 - <br />(• the study area, is an intermittent scream which most likely carries <br />water during the Spring snow melt and following summer thunderstorms. <br />Ho permanent sources oP water are present within the study area. <br />Climate <br />The climate of the survey area is characteristic of the semi-arid <br />steppe regions of Colorado (NW Coal EIS Draft Vol. 1, IV ). The mean <br />annual precipitation in the Hayden area is approximately 41 cm. Most <br />of the precipitation is received in the Spring (NW Coal EIS Draft Vol. <br />1, IV: 90-94). Tte maximum and minimum July temperatures of the Hayden <br />area are 29°C and 7oC, respectively, and the maximum and minimum January <br />temperatures are 1°C and -17oC, respectively. Wide daily temperature <br />fluctuations are common (NW Coal EIS Draft Vol. 1, IV: 94-96). <br />~ Flora <br />~r The primary plats communities within the study area are the <br />sagebrush community and the moutain shrub community. Several aspen <br />~ groves are present within the mountain shrub areas. <br />The mountain shrub community dominates the ridge tops and the <br />upper ridge slopes. The primary species present within this community <br />include scrub oak ( ercus gambelii) and serviceberry (Amelanchier medic). <br />The understory within this community is largely composed of grasses and <br />unidentified fortis. Some aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) are present <br />in these areas. Ground visibility within the mountain shrub community <br />was less than SX due to the presence of thick leaf letter and the dense <br />understory. <br />The sagebrush community interdigitated with the mountain shrub <br />~) community on the ridge tops and upper ridge slopes and dominated the <br />lower ridge slopes and the bottom of Hayden Culch. Dominant species <br />