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Twentymile Coal Company: Fish Creek & Rail Load Out U.S. Waters Inventory & 1~'etland Delineation 1 • 6.2 DELINEATED WETLANDS 1 Delineated wetland acreage is provided on Table 2. Delineation sample site locations are depicted on Map 1 and Map 2. Appendix A Delineation Site Farms 1 contains wetland delineation field data. Photographs of delineation sample sites f and soil cores are contained under Photographic Plates. 1 Delineated wetland within the survey areas includes riverine wet meadow and emergent marsh. Fish Creek contains predominately riverine wet meadow. The occurrence and distribution of emergent marsh in Fish Creek was nominal. Delineated wetland at the Rail Road Load Out site include wet meadow for the entire length of the drainage channel and emergent marsh in the upper two• thirds of the drainage channel. The perennial drainage channel is lineaz and narrow. 7.0 WETLAND VALUE AND FUNCTION ] • The wetlands surveyed have five primary functions including wildlife habitat, erosion control, water quality treatment and protection, hydrologic recharge and ] stormwater runoff conveyance. The values of these functions are discussed briefly in this section. The value of most of the wet meadow as wildlife habitat is nominal. Both 1 areas are small in areal extent and narrowly linear. Long-term cattle grazing at the Fish Creek location has adversely impacted the wildlife habitat quality of this I delineated wetland. Past and ongoing mining activities impact the use of the Rail Road Load Out site by wildlife. The surveyed wetlands serve to collect and retard storm water runoff. This results in: 1) A reduction of peak flow volumes; 2) A reduction of storm water runoff velocities; 3) An increase in soil moisture and ground water recharge; and 4) Provision of vegetative filters that treat and protect water quality. Habitat Management, Inc. 6 7/20/01