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EXHIBIT J <br />VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />The site is within the Hook and Moore Glade potential conservation area according to the <br />Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). This area is characterized by a large <br />sandstone hogback that parallels US Highway 287. A sandstone outcrop is located <br />between 287 and the hogback, and is the area to be mined under this proposal. <br />According to the CNHP, the vegetation is characterized by Mountain mahogany <br />shrublands on the steeper slopes with scattered Ponderosa Pine and Rocky Mountain <br />Juniper. The valley within the hogback is dominated by grasslands that are somewhat <br />degraded by the invasion ofnon-native species. Some wetland vegetation is present <br />along the western portion of the site as a result of leakage from the North Poudre Supply <br />Canal. Many weedy species have become established around the canal, probably due to <br />disturbance related to the ditch operation. Much of the area in general has been either <br />heavily mined or disturbed by residential development. <br />Based on on-site observation, the dominate vegetation consists of the following: <br />Outcrop to be mined: <br />75%-85% Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus rnontanus) <br />• S%-10% Yucca (Yucca glauca) <br />Meadow areas surrounding the outcrop: <br />90% Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) <br />Transitional areas between outcrop and meadow areas: <br />80%-85% Needle-and-thread (Stipa neomexicarza) <br />5%-10% Yucca (Yucca glauca) <br />The low-lying area to the west of the site included Sanbar Willow (salix exigua), <br />Cottonwood (populus augustafolia) and miscellaneous grasses. Other plants observed <br />onsite included a variety of forties and grasses, including same invasive plants such as <br />purple loosestrife. Several of these could not be identined because of the lack of flower <br />heads at the time of observation. <br />19 <br />