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SaYiae 2.04.10 <br />2.04.10 -Vegetation Information <br />• This section of the permit application describes vegetation community and species occurrence and <br />characteristics in the Mute Pettnit and adjacent areas as a basis for understanding site-specific land use <br />and habitat conditions, evaluation of potential rnirting-related impacts, and development of plans for <br />revegetation of mine disturbance areas as part of the comprehensive site reclamation plans. Most of <br />the information presented in this section is based on site-specific vegetation mapping and <br />characterization studies of proposed mine disturbance and adjacent areas. <br />Vegetation Infomtation <br />Vegetation types in the Permit and adjacent azeas are consistent with the rugged retrain, semi-and <br />climate, and generally poorly developed soils, with Mountain Shmbland (juniper, scrub oak, mountain <br />snowbetry, big sagebrush, and various grasses as the ptintary species) and Juniper-Woodland Quttiper, <br />oak, mountain snowberry, Saskatoon servicebetry, and mountain rna}togany as the primary species) <br />vegetation types dominating. Very limited areas of riparian and meadowland vegetation exist in the <br />bottoms of some of the larger drainages and the higher elevations to the north of the permit area and <br />moister east-facing slopes tray support a coniferous commiin~ry with Douglas and sub-alpine fir. <br />Much of the lowland area that has been or will be disturbed by coastruttion of surface facilities to <br />support ongoing underground mining operations, has been previously disturbed by historic mining <br />activities, railroad construction, state highway construction, and associated residential development. <br />In these areas, the natural vegetation community has been eliminated and in some cases replaced by <br />temporary or permanent revegetation seedings. Due to the rugged terrain and semi-arid climate, use <br />of the Permit and adjacent areas has generally been limited to dispersed seasonal grazing and wildlife <br />habitat. Some areas have been overgrazed and regional introduction of certain non-native species has <br />• resulted in the loss of some of the more palatable native grass species, with replacement by less <br />desirable introduced spectes. <br />Surface disturbance associated with the Somerset Mme and the associated Elk Creek surface facilities <br />u all pre-law disturbance and information on native vegetation in the disturbed areas is limited to <br />projettion of information from adjacent undisturbed areas as addressed by the baseline vegetation <br />inventory. The area disturbed by the Sanborn Creek Mme surface facilities was previously disturbed <br />by railroad construction, state highway constnuction and residential development associated with <br />historic mining activities. This area is adjacent to the Elk Creek surface facilities and pre-disturbance <br />vegetation was probably similar to that identified through the baseline vegetation inventory for the <br />Somerset Mme area. New surface disturbance for the Sanborn Creek Mme facilities was limited to <br />approximately 0.30 acres of Juruper Woodland and 0.25 acres of Mountain Shmbland. New surface <br />disturbance for Substation No. 3 and the associated GGulch Ventilation Shaft is in the Mountain <br />Shmbland community and affected approximately 1.6 acres of chit vegetation type. The area <br />disturbed by the West Valley Fill and associated haul road u predominantly within the Mountain <br />Shntbland vegetation community but ako affected small areas of the Juniper Woodland community. <br />New surface disturbance for the West Valley Fill included approximately 10.8 acres of Mountain <br />Shmbland and 1.1 acres of Juniper Woodland. Proposed new surface disturbance for the Elk Creek <br />Mme surface facilities u almost exclusively in the Mountain Shmbland vegetation community <br />(approximately 7.9 acres), with very limited disturbance (0.76 acres) of the minor riparian community. <br />Veeetation Mappine and Sampling <br />Baseline vegetation mapping and sampling were condutted by Western Resource Development for <br />the Somerset Mine in 1981-1982 in consultation with Tom Gillis and Jim Herron of the CML.RD. <br />. Detailed information on sampling program design, implementation, and results is provided by the <br />Baseline Vegetatton Inventory Report (Westem Resource Development, 2/82) included in Exhibit <br />2.04-E6,~Vegetarion Information. till vegetation sampling fell within a common reference area <br />established for both the Mountain Shmbland and Juniper Woodland vegetation types. The reference <br />PR04 2.04102 Revised August 2000 <br />