2004-07-08_REVISION - M1998054 (2)

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EXHIBITS I & J United States Department of Agriculture o FRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service 351 T" Street P. O. Bax 937 970-878-5628-OFFICE Meeker, CO 81641 970-878-3730-FAX Requested By: Rio Blanco County Road & Date: April 13, 2004 Bridge Department by: Joy Surveying Company Assisted By: Alvin L. Jones Location: Sec. 36, T25; District Conservationist Sec. 1, T35; R101W, 6th PM Situation: You requested an inventory of the existing soil and vegetation for the proposed expansion of the East Douglas Creek Gravel Pit, to approximately 15 acres, located in SW1/2SW1/4 of Section 36, T2 S, R101W and the NWIJ4NW lJ4 of Section 1, T3S, R101W, approximately 3 miles up East Douglas Creek at the mouth of West Dry Lake Canyon. You also request recommendations for reclamation of the site once the mining is completed. Information Provided: The site is presently in an undisturbed near native condition with limited roads present. 1) SOILS - The soil unit which occurs on this site is a complex mapping unit, the Rentsac-Moyerson-Rock Outcrop complex, 5 to 65 percent slopes. It appears that only the Rentsac and Moyerson portions occur within the proposed boundary of the pit. The Rentsac portion is generally a well drained, shallow soil formed in residuum from sandstone. However, on this site due to material deposition, the depth to bedrock is greater than the standard for the mapping unit of 10- 20 inches. This soil normally has a channery loam surface of 9 inches and extremely flaggy loam 7 inch thick subsoil. Permeability is moderately rapid and the water holding capacity is very low. Runo££ potential is medium with a very high erosion hazard. The Moyerson portion is also a normally shallow, well drained soil, but derived from shale. The surface layer is a clay loam about 10 inches thick, with a 7 inch thick clay subsoil. Permeability is slow, and the water holding capacity is low. Runoff is medium to rapid and the erosion hazard is very high. These two soil types are intermixed and may also have inclusions of. other soil types. Suitable topsoil is limited on this site. Efforts need to be made to save all topsoil and stockpile it for use during reclamation of the site. 2) VEGETATION - The site is within the Clayey Slopes Range Site. The dominate species found on these sites are Pinion and Juniper trees, and big sagebrush, shadescale, greasewood, galleta, beardless wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirrel tail grass, Salina wildrye, Junegrass, Indian ricegrass, prickly pear cactus and cheatgrass. The vegetative ground cover is approximately 10 percent. The annual vegetative production is about 450 pounds/acre air dry. The Natural Resource Conservation Service works in partnership with the American People to conserve and sustain natural resources on private lands. An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.