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. EXHIBIT J VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />a..~ _ ~_ __..~ ~ v_~ .. __-._ _~~ ~_ N u.. - <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />Information regarding the vegetation in the project area has been gathered using the <br />published soil survey for the Pueblo area (Larson et al., 1979}, site-specific vegetation <br />study for GCC Rio Grande, Inc., and observations made by Greystone during a May 2001 <br />visit. Exhibit J describes the vegetation that occurs in the project area and provides data <br />to be used in formulating a reclamation plan (Exhibit E) for the disturbed areas. <br />VEGETATION TYPES PRESENT <br />The site consists of flat rangeland with native vegetation. The vegetation type is primarily <br />shortgrass prairie dominated by buffalo grass, blue grama, and few low shrubs and forbs. <br />Vegetation types also include outcroppings of limestone and riparian aeeas. Ground cover <br />is estimated at 60 percent grasses and approximately 10 percent forbs. Some of the native <br />vegetation in the project area has been disturbed by grazing. This has allowed the <br />establishment of some. weed species, such as musk thistle, sunflower, cocklebur, wild <br />gourd, mullein, and kochia. Table J-1 lists species that may occur in the project area. <br />The characteristic vegetation feature in the project area is candelabra cactus, which <br />provides the most significant tall shrub component on the plant and surface mine site. <br />Other succulents that are present include prickly pear and yucca. Tall shrub cover is <br />estimated at three percent; low shrub cover is approximately three percent. <br />The project area is cut by several shallow ephemeral drainages. These drainages are <br />relatively flat 'and dominated by rangeland plains species. The main riparian zone <br />includes cottonwood, saltcedar, and rabbitbrush occurring on the St. Charles River at the <br />north end of the project area. Cottonwood was also observed near one stock pond on the <br />project area. The only other tree component in the area is one-seeded juniper, that occurs <br />near limestone outcrops on the northwest side of the project area. The estimated tree <br />cover for the project azea is two percent. <br />Table J-1 <br />Plant S ecies That Ma Occur in the Pro'ect Area <br />Scientific Name Common Name Cover <br />Trees 2°!0 <br />Juni erus monos erma One-seeded ~uni er <br />Po ulus deltoides Cottonwood <br />Tamarsx ramosissima Saltcedaz, Tamarisk <br />Tall Shrubs 3% <br />Artemisia bi elovii Bigelow sagebrush <br />Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rabbitbrush <br />Cylindro untia imbricata Candelabra cactus <br />Rhus aromatica Skunkbrush <br />AppExhibicsA-T-APP(I180)Rev8lJanuaryl7, 2D°2 J-1 <br />