2004-10-28_PERMIT FILE - M2004067

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Banks and Gesso, LLC Exhibit J -Vegetation Information Site-specific vegetation inventories were not performed, however, data from the Soil Conservation Service and from area quarry applications were used to prepare this exhibit. Veoetation Vegetation on the site can be divided into two primary communities. South-facing slopes are ashrub-dominated community. North-facing slopes are dominated by forest. Mountain Mahooanv Community South-facing slopes have a dry environment well suited to the growth of Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). The thin, rocky, sandy soils favor its growth. The canopy cover produced by this species varies widely. The primary species in the understory is Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis). Other species of some importance include Western Wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntis), and Fringed Sage (artemisia frigida). Other species may include Stipa comata, Rosa woodsii, Antennaria, Bromus tectorum, Verbascum thapsus, Aster, Yucca glauca, and Koeleria cristata. Isolated individuals of Ponderosa Pine and Rocky Mountain Juniper are sparsely scattered throughout the Mountain Mahogany Community. The Ponderosa Pine is found on rockier, thinner soils. Forest Communities Along east-west tending ridges, the demarcation between tree-dominated and shrub- dominated communities is quite abrupt. The density of the trees on the site exhibits a strong increase as the slope aspect becomes more northerly. Slopes facing due north have canopy covers reaching 90-100 percent and are composed of Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine and Aspen. Western-facing slopes with less rocky soils have a mixture of Mountain Mahogany shrubs and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees with a few Ponderosa Pine. Steep, rocky, west-facing slopes have a clear preference for Ponderosa Pine with little or no Juniper but still a large Clear Creek District Water Providers, ll_C Octoher 25, 2004 MMRR Quarry 24 03047