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<br />• Specific yield data for the proposed site is not available. However, there is <br />data available that is based on county production averages, soils, and farm <br />production records for the general site area. <br />The county average for wheat production in Routt County is 23.5 bushels/ <br />acre. This data is available from the Agricultural Stabilization and Conser- <br />vation Service (ASCS) in Steamboat Springs. Since various factors such as <br />differing soil types, localized climatic events and management practices are <br />all averaged into the county average production figures, actual site specific <br />figures may be higher or lower than the county average. This is the case for <br />the area in the vicinity of the proposed site which has an eight-year average <br />-of 32 bushels per acre with a range of 2&37 bushels per acre. <br />The two soil types identified on the site, the Savage loam and the Hesperus <br />loam, have predicted yield data available from the unpublished Routt County <br />Soil Survey. When the two soils are averaged together for yield, the ex- <br />pected yield is 32.5 bushels per acre. This assumes that proper farming <br />• techniques are being employed. In this case, the predicted yield closely <br />correlates with actual yields from the immediate area. Because of these <br />similarities, the average yield for the site can be expected to be 32 bushels <br />per acre, assuming normal growing season, normal precipitation, and proper <br />farming methods. <br />There is one other broad vegetation type or land use type on the proposed <br />site. This vegetation type has been affected by man's activities in several <br />ways. In the western portion of the proposed site is an abandoned farmstead <br />and an old aces road. The eastern edge of the proposed site is occupied by <br />Peabody Coal Company's active gravel pit, the partial remains of an old <br />gravel pit operation and native vegetation (please refer to Exhibit J-I, Pre- <br />mining Land Use and Vegetation). <br />The amount of native vegetation is rather small in comparison to the rest of <br />the proposed site. The native vegetation which existed prior to man's distur- <br />• bances is best described by the SCS range site for the Mountain Loam range <br />site. On the west side of the proposed site, this range site has been heavily <br />impacted by man's activities. The vegetation is principally made up of <br />J-2 <br />