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~ • c~ <br />c-~ <br />The project area receives twelve to fifteen inches of precipitation <br />annually, the majority coming iu the form of snow. Soils vary from <br />loamy to gravelly in texture, arc light-colored, and low in organic <br />matter. <br />Ir'indy Gulch is a periennial stream with much of its volume coming from <br />the mine drainage. <br />The terrain of [dindy Gulch is characterized as a relatively narrow, <br />rugged canyon with sideslopes of twenty per cent to fifty per cent <br />gradient. Elevation of the project area is 9400 feet. The proposed <br />plant site is on a relatively gentle, sloping bench. <br />Ecological' <br />District personnel with formal and/or on-t}~e-job training in wildlife <br />management have not observed any state or federally designated endangered <br />and/or threatened species of fish and wildlife in the project area, and <br />no such species are known to inhabit the area. <br />}tarrington's Pfanual of the Plants of Colorado was reviewed to determine <br />whether or not known locations of candidate endangered plant species occur <br />C• in the area and if suitable habitat could be identified. The list of <br />Endangered Flant Species Occurring In The Rocky Fountain Region, as <br />published in the Fade~al Y.egistcr, 6/16/76, pp. 24524-24570, was used to <br />determine what species might occur in the area. <br />No known locations or suitable habitat of candidate species could be <br />identified in the area as a result of the review. Forest personnel will <br />continue to watch for the occurrence of unknown populations, and should <br />any candidate species be observed in the area, steps will Ue taken at that <br />time to protect the plants. <br />The project area is on a southwest-facing slope :+ith mountain bunchgrasses <br />occurring as the primary vegetation species. Scattered tree species, <br />such as aspen, Douglas fir, and Engelmann and blue spruce occur in the <br />general area, bu[ no trees are located on the proposed site. <br />Fildlife species in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, and <br />numerous species of smaller animals and birds. The proposed project <br />is not located within big game winter range. <br />Socio-Economic: <br />llomestake Mining Company is currently one of the largest. ta:;pzyers in <br />Mineral County, paying $118,947 in production taxes during 1976. The <br />total payroll for 1976 was $2,407,074. Local payroll amounted to <br />$1,913,736 for an average of 127.4 employees. Contracted services <br />accounted for the additional amount. Over eighty per cent of the <br />employees reside in ;:ineral County, with the remainder in the San Luis <br />Valley. <br />- 139 - <br />