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• summer season range located in the adjacent high country. In the fall, the quality of big game <br />hunting and the natural beauty of the area draw a large number of in-state and out-of--state hunters <br />to the area, providing a sizeable boost to the local economy. Predominant native vegetation types <br />and wildlife habitat include the upland sagebrush, pinyon juniper, and areas of riparian vegetation <br />associated with Tuttle Draw and several small tributaries. It is probable that irrigation tailwater has <br />created or significantly enhanced areas of riparian vegetation. <br />Historic and Existing Land Use on the Perrrrt Area. The historic land use on the mine permit area <br />prior to 1958, when mining activities were begun by the Edna Coal Company, was fairly well split <br />between irrigated crop/hayland and native rangeland/wildlifehahitat. By the time Peabody purchased <br />the Navajo Mine in 1963, nearly all irrigated lands south of the east-west county road had been <br />abandoned and approximately one quarter of the present permit area was affected by mining <br />activities. In May 1983, Surface Mine Permit No. G008-81 was approved for the Nucla Mine. At <br />that time, approximately two-thirds of the present permit area was affected by mining activities and <br />all irrigated lands south of the county bypass road and west of the north-south county road had been <br />abandoned. The Nucla Mine (composed of the Nucla and Nucla East areas) was purchased by <br />• WFC in 1992. The name was changed to the New Horizon Mine (with New Horizon 1 and New <br />Horizon 2 areas corresponding to the Nucla and Nucla East areas respectively). Existing land use <br />on the mine permit area is predominated by mining disturbances, mining related activities, or <br />reclamation. Native rangeland, abandoned cropland and irrigated cropland comprise nearly all of <br />the remaining lands in the permit area. Table 2.04.3-1 "Acreages by Land Use, New Horizon Mine <br />Permit Area" lists the various land uses v~ithin the permit area and the corresponding acreages. A <br />discussion of these various land uses follows. <br />(REVISED 3-29-96) 2.04.3-3 <br />