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42.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND MINING ACTIVITIES -- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. 2.04.10 Vegetation Information. (Cont'd.) (4) (Cont'd.) Harner & Associates, Inc. was contracted by C[dI in July, 1986, to complete vegetative sampling of the Orchard Valley West Mine and access road sites. The results of species composi- tion and diversity, success standards and seed mixture analy- ses completed during 1981 and 1982 were very similar to those recently obtained at the Orchard Valley Wes[ Mine site. Four vegetation types were identified in the area of the OVWM. The oakbrush and pinyon-juniper types are the most predominant in the area. The riparian and mixed shrub types comprise a much smaller portion of [he area. Refer to the Harner & Associ- ates, Inc. Vegetation Analysis in the Vegetation Appendix in Volume 9A for more specific information. The Vegetation Appendix in Volume 9A contains the results of these vegetation inventories. These reports include qualita- tive as well as quantitative descriptions of the community types occurring in the permit area. Quantitative information obtained includes cover, productivity, species composition, and woody plant density. While this information was obtained . only from limited portions of the permit area (near the dis- turbed mines sites) , it is considered typical of the area in general. Map 9A-1 depicts the plant community types. Table 2.04-20 in the Vegetation Appendix, Volinne 9A, indicates the approximate acreages of each community type in the pro- posed permit area. Brief descriptions of these community types follow. Agricultural: Agricultural areas are located primarily in the valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and on Garvin Mesa. Fruit orchards containing peaches, apricots, prunes, cherries, pears, and apples are the most economically impor- tant crops. Irrigated pastures and haylands are also common. Orchard productivity is also presented in Volume 9A. Aspen: Aspen occurs as a stable, rather continuous forest belt between 8,000 and 8,500 feet in the study area. The un- derstory of the aspen type is very lush and contains a large diversity of grasses and forbs. The most common grasses are Thurber's fescue, nodding brome, fringed, brome, Kentucky bluegrass, slender wheatgrass, needlegrass, alpine timothy, and spike trisetum. The main forbs are northern bedstraw, . Revised 08/01/84 Added 10/12/86 Revised 10/12/86 Revised 10101!87 71