2005-07-13_REVISION - M2000016 (26)

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MCWILLIAMS PROPERTY Most of the McWilliams property consists of upland agricultural lands that have been irrigated in the past (Photo MC-1). In 2004, no crops were being produced on the site. Major species in the upland areas included field bindweed, white top, summer cypress, Scotch thistle (Onopordum acant}tium) and annual sunflower (He[ianthus annuus). There are some scattered areas where irrigation water may have pooled in the past. A few wetland species including knotweed (Persicaria sp.) were noted in these areas, but these areas are not wetlands. They currently do not have the hydrology necessary to support wetlands. Wetlands on the property occur in association with the channel of the South Platte River (Map MC-1). These are the same type of wetland areas that occur on the Rittenhouse property. No additional observations were made. There is also a small wetland area associated with the diversion ditch that extends northeastward from the Rittenhouse property. In the field, the fences and fence lines suggest that this wetland may not actually be on the McWilliams property, but rather on the property located west of the McWilliams property. The proposed boundaries for the extent of mining could be slightly adjusted to avoid this wetland. Since this wetland is an extension of the ditch from the Rittenhouse property, it would also be jurisdictional. There are no other wetland areas on this property. Mostly, the McWilliams property consists of an upland site dominated by species that are not characteristic of wetland areas. The wetlands on the McWilliams property are jurisdictional (Table MC-1). If the preliminary boundaries for proposed reining cells are adjusted slightly, none of the jurisdictional wetland areas on the McWilliams property would be affected by mitring. Table MC-1. Descriptions of wetlands on the McWilliams Property. Wetland Location Photo Numbers Descriptions and Comments Jurisdictional Status These wetland areas are located along the active channel of the South Platte River and Wetlands Along w~thm the trench formed by the river. Many the South Platte MC-2 Parts of this area consist of exposed sand and Jurisdictional/ Waters River (W-MCl) gravel bars. In places the banks have been of the United States armored with waste concrete rip-rip. Refer to Table R-1 for a list of species observed in this e of wetland. This wetland area occurs along the saturated margins of an irrigation diversion ditch. Because of the steep sides of the excavated Wetland along channel, this wetland does not extend very far Jurisdictional - Diversion Ditch No Photo away from the Flowing water. Seasonally the Connected to other ~-M~) flow in this channel is variable depending on jurisdictional irrigation practices. Reed canary grass is the wetlands major species in this wetland. A complete list of species in this type of wetland is presented for Wetland W-Nl (Norden Pro er ). -12-