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<br />• XI. EXHIBIT ] -VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />At the time of preparation of this application, the existing site vegetation consisted primarily of <br />pasrure grasses and annual weeds, with scattered cottonwood trees near the edge of Boulder Creek. <br />The total number of trees is approximately 20 and they range approximately in height from 25 to 50 <br />ft. As mentioned in Exhibits D and E (Mining and Reclamation Plans), trees within the 50 ft wildlife <br />buffer along Boulder Creek will remain and a widened buffer will be employed az the southwest <br />corner of the site to save one particulazly large tree neaz County Road 20.5. Also, two-inch caliper <br />cottonwood trees will be replanted during reclamation on approximately 40 ft centers along the <br />Boulder Creek corridor to enhance riparian habitat. Presently the site is irrigated pasrure land <br />covered by indigenous pasture grasses and annual weeds. <br />As part of the application process, a wetlands delineation was performed by Erik Olgeirson, Ph.D., <br />consulting ecologist. Dr. Olgeirson determined that there aze 3.6 acres of jurisdictional wetlands and <br />9.4 acres of non jurisdictional wetlands on the property. The jurisdictional wetlands are limited to a <br />strip approximately 10 to 25 ft wide along Boulder Creek. These wetlands were mapped and aze <br />staked and will be preserved by the proposed riparian buffer zone (50 ft wide). The non- <br />jurisdictional wetlands are the result of the many irrigation ditches and stock ponds that bisect the <br />site. These will be excavated during mining. Dr. Olgeirson's Field Report is included on the <br />following page. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has accepted the wetlands delineation performed <br />at the site as documented in the letter included at the end of this exhibit. <br />Anticipated Spiranthes orchid habitat was also evaluated by Dr. Olgeirson. At present, viable <br />Spiranthes habitat is considered restricted to the jurisdictional wetlands that will be preserved within <br />the buffer zone along Boulder Creek. A Spiranthes survey will not be conducted because the viable <br />habitat in the jurisdictional wetlands will not be disturbed by the proposed mining. <br /> <br />27 <br />/"~~~ <br />