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<br />7. Vegetation <br />• No native vegetation communities are currently present within [he proposed permit area. As de- <br />scribed in the section on land use, the site was dozed to facilitate irrigation in the 1970's. The field <br />has been irrigated for alfalfa and hay production since that time. Production has been approximately <br />2.5-3.0 tons per acre per year. Some thistle and other weeds are present in field but make up less <br />than 5% of the total vegetation. Immediately north of the permit area (approximately 50~ is a cattail <br />wetland that is wet at ground level throughout most of the year. This wetland is approximately 2.5 <br />feet vertically lower than the permit area and 3-4 feet higher than the river. As explained in the min- <br />ing plan, steps have been incorporated into the plan to protect the wetland. When the gravel is mined <br />out, additional wetland will be created along the shore of the lake left by mining the gravel. <br />Prior to leveling and irrigation, the field probably contained mainly basin wildrye, western <br />wheatgrass, streambank wheatgrass, bluegrasses, and big sagebrush. Smaller amounts of robber <br />rabbitbrush, fourwing saltbush, and bottlebrush squirreltail are also commonly present in similar <br />areas that have not been disturbed. <br />Th hillsides to the south of the permit are above [he field consist of sparse pinyon, juniper, mountain <br />brush, sagebrush and some grasses. Soils on these slopes are thin compared to those in the meadow. <br />• <br />Piceance Pit 7/01 11 <br />