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EXHIBIT J <br />VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />(a) Under present conditions, the upper terrace is characterized by introduced agricultural <br />plantings with approximately 90% vegetative cover. The actively irrigated portions <br />consist of alfalfa (Medicago saliva), red clover (Trifolium pratense), smooth brome <br />(Bromus inermis), and orchid grass (Dacrylis g[omerata). In the aeeas that are not flood <br />irrigated, the cover is predominantly alfalfa and grass [hat has been invaded by weeds <br />such as bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Canada thistle (C. arvense), hound's tongue <br />(Cynog[ossum off~cinale), gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), and knapweed (Centaurea <br />picric). <br />The steep slope from the upper terrace to the lower terrace is heavily browsed and <br />disturbed shrubland. The steep slope and the lower terrace will not be disturbed by the <br />mining operations. The predominant vegetation along this slope is big sagebrush <br />(Artemisia tridentata), skunkbrush sumac (Rhus trilobata), Rocky Mountain juniper <br />(Juniperus scopulorum), serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis), and rubber rabbitbrush <br />(Chrysothamnus nauseosus). The understory consists of Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis <br />hymenoides), pasture sage (Artemisia frigida), white heath aster (Aster ericoides), great <br />mullein (Verbascum thapsus), hound's tongue, bull thistle, and virgin's bower (Clematis <br />ligusticifolia). <br />The lower terrace will not be disturbed by the mining activities. However, we have <br />included this section for information purposes. The cattle grazing has impacted the plant <br />species presence and abundance. The lower terrace along the Eagle River floodplain <br />include the following vegetation: narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) with a <br />relatively open stand of trees 35-40 feet [all and with diameters - at -breast heights in the <br />range of 12 - 18 inches and a few mature Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii). The <br />dense herbaceous understory consists of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratense), Baltic rush <br />(Juncus balticus), smooth broome, redtop (Agrostis gigantea), and three-square bulrush <br />(Scirpus americanus). Isolated individual shtvbs consist of Wood's rose (Rosa woodsii), <br />hawthom (Crataegus rivularis), and a few young Rocky Mountain junipers. <br />In the lower terrace, aeeas with moist soils or shallow water consist mostly of wet <br />meadows and shrubby wetlands. The major plant species in these aeeas include Nebraska <br />sedge (Carex nebrascensis), water sedge (Carex aquatalis), beaked sedge (Carex <br />utricu[ata), redtop, Baltic rush, arrowgrass (Triglochin maritima), foxtail bazley <br />(Hordeum jubatum), creeping spikerush (Eleocharis palustris), and broadleaf cattail <br />(Typha latifolia). The shrubs on the edge of these wet meadows or in slightly drier areas <br />include alder (Alnus incana), Wood's rose, dogwood (Corpus stolonifera), hawthom, <br />sandbaz willow (Salix exigua), and mountain willow (Salix monticola). Also, small <br />meadows dominated by saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) interphase with the we[ meadows <br />and shrubby wetlands. <br />