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irrigation. Ground cover is variable depending upon past activity, and most plants have naturally <br />invaded since irrigation was stopped. A significant portion of the site is almost barren, as a result of <br />past dozing. Between the central azea that contains the cottonwoods and the south cottonwood <br />grove, perennial grasses and weeds dominate the pasture. Average ground cover is approximately <br />30%, and approximately 1/5 of this amount consists of weedy species. Variability within the site is <br />high. The local SCS specialist provided an inventory of plants found on the site south of the river in <br />1982. Although this letter corresponded to the Farnsworth #2 Pit area, it is adjacent to this permit <br />area. This letter from Mark Loye is enclosed in Appendix D. The pictures enclosed in this section <br />show the site as it exists in December of 2003. <br />A lazge mature cottonwood grove south of the mining area will be avoided. Immediately south of the <br />cottonwood grove (approximately 50') is a return irrigation ditch which has wetland plants at the <br />bottom and which is wet slightly above ground level throughout most of the yeaz. This wetland is <br />approximately 6.0 feet vertically lower than the permit area and 3-4 feet higher than the river. This <br />ditch is the Farnsworth Collection Ditch, which flows water yeaz round. As explained in the mining <br />plan, steps have been incorporated into the plan to protect the wetland by pumping clean water in it <br />from the dewatering operation, if pit pumping shows signs that the wetland may become drier. When <br />the gravel is mined out, an additional shelf wetland will be created along the north shore of the lake <br />left by mining the gravel. Minor wetlands (mostly willows) also exist in the banks of the river where <br />the bridge abutments will be placed. A USACOE permit is being applied for to address all wetlands <br />on the site. <br />North Fork Pit March 04 10 <br />