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EXHIBIT J f ~ II I IIIIII I IIIIII'll VEGETATION INFORMATION • INTRODUCTION: As was the case with the soils, the vegetation description must be broken into two parts. On the one hand, is that area west of Academy Boulevard where the long history of disturbance has essentially created a waste area where the only significant vegetation is composed of weeds and a few opportunistic native and introduced grasses. On the east side of Academy the situation is quite different. In most areas the vegetation is in good to excellent condition. Some lands however have experienced more recent severe disturbances and either have no vegetation at all or the vegetation, like the west side of Academy, is primarily composed of weedy species. Because the vegetation is quite uniform over most of the site, the general vegetation type is noted on Exhibit C (Pre-mining and Mining Plan Map). Major trees are noted on the map by symbol. West Side of Academy As mentioned earlier, the area on the west side of Academy is characterized by a highly disturbed type of vegetation that is best described as weedy. Few natives can be found on the site as it is dominated by introduced weeds, primarily Russian Thistle, invaded Sweetclovers, and several • other species of common weeds. The only grass of any importance is Stipa somata. Little more can be said about this area as it is so highly disturbed that a detailed vegetation inventory and description would be rather pointless. East Side of Academy The vegetation of this area is remarkably uniform and in rather good condition for the most part. In some areas the vegetation is primarily weeds. But, over most of the site, the vegetation is dominated by grass. There are two broad units found on this area. Disturbed areas which include land currently being mined, and "native" vegetation forms the other major unit. The former is generally devoid of vegetation but does contain locally dense growths of weeds. At this time, about 70°k of the site is occupied by old field or "native" vegetation; the remainder is either weed growth or devoid of vegetation. The old field vegetation can be divided into two minor units. Actually there are several units present, but the scale of these other units and the differences between them are more of academic importance than of importance to revegetation and reclamation planning. Most of the old Feld vegetation is a grassland type with a cover of 75~Yo to nearly 100%. There seems to be three primary species. Over most of the area Blue Grams (Bouteloua gracilis) dominates. But on the western end of the site (just east of Academy Boulevard) the primary species • Vegetation Page J-1