2004-11-09_REVISION - M2000016 (11)

Home Browse Search

There is an isolated wetland located in the fields east of this ditch. Water to support this wetland comes from irrigation return flows. Because of the isolated nature of the wetland, it is likely to be non-jurisdicfional. Additional wetlands occur in association with drainages and ditches on the western part of the property. With a slight adjustment of proposed mining boundaries, most of these wetland areas could be avoided. The only significant wetland areas that occur in proposed mining cells occur in the north central part of the area. These wetlands occur in association with what was once the continuation of the natural channel of the tributary to Big Dry Creek. Prior to channelization of this tributary and creation of the north-south ditch through the central part of the area, water flowed through a meandering channel. Remnants of the channel can still be seen, and there is enough water in the area to support a variety of wetland types. Berms created from the ditch excavation, roads and topographically higher areas support upland vegetation within this wetland complex. Wetlands in the north part of this area that are adjacent to Big Dry Creek are jurisdictional. The other wetlands in this part of the property are not jurisdictional because they are not connected to either Big Dry Creek or to the tributary/ditch to Big Dry Creek. Summary descriptions of wetland areas are presented in Table C-1. Table C-1. Descriptions of wetlands on the Chikuma Property. Refer to Table C-2 for lists of species observed in these wetland areas. Wetland Photo Descriptions and Comments Jurisdictional Status Location Number s These wetland areas are similar to other Wetlands along wetland and waters of the United States sites the channel and on other properties. Patches of wetland Jurisdictional/ Waters trench of the C-1 vegetation occurs along with areas of exposed of the United States South Platte sand and gravel. Conditions in these areas is River (W-Cl) very changeable depending on flooding conditions alon the South Platte River. This small channel carries run-off from the flood plain and possibly some irrigation return flow. Small pools of standing water were Jurisdictional - Small channel noted in this wetland. Coyote willow (Salix Connected to other the drains into C-2 and exigua) is a major species in this wetland. ' jurisdictlonal the South Platte C3 Chairmaker s rush, duckweed, common cattail ~`'etlands along the River (W-C2) and a species of teasel (Dipsact~s lacininta) occur South Platte River as major species. Hydrophytlc species accounted for S6 percent of the observed s ecies. This small wetland occurs in a depression in a channel that carries occasional run-off and Wetland in an limited amounts of irrigation return flow. ephemeral Major species in this wetland was a species Not Jurisdictional - channel on the C-4 knotweed, reed canary grass and coyote Isolated tloodplain willow. Portions of this area had saturated soil (W-C3) at the surface, but no standing water. Hydrophytic species accounted for 90 percent of the observed s ecies. _Z~_