2005-06-24_REVISION - M2000016 (13)

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ANDERSON PROPERTY Most of the Anderson property consists of upland areas that are used for livestock grazing. Major species in the upland areas included summer cypress, smooth brome, field bindweed and white top. Prairie dogs are common n1 the upland areas. In general, the depth to water table is too great on this site to support wetlands. Groundwater is the only source of water, since the site is not irrigated. Wetlands occur where excavated areas and old channels are the deepest. Based on observations of exposed water on the site, the water table is approximately 3-4 feet below the normal surface elevation. Most of the wetland areas on the Anderson property are associated with the trench and channel of the South Platte River (Map A-1). There are two other small wetland areas that occur in depressions on the flood plain of the South Platte River. These wetlands are isolated from the river and are non-jurisdictional. The southern wetland consists of a cattail marsh that has developed in what appears to be an excavated stock pond. The other wetland occurs in a topographically low spot in what may be an old meander loop of the South Platte River or an old overflow channel of the river. This channel extends to the northeast from the mapped wetland, but the hydrologic conditions were judged to be too dry to support wetlands. Canada thistle was one of the dominant species in this channel. At one time, this may have been a wetland, but currently it appears to be too dry for wetland species to persist and dominate the vegetation. There are no other wetlands on the site. Both jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional wetlands occur on the site (Table A-1). Based on the preliminary mining plans, the two non-jurisdictional wetlands would be affected by mining operations on the site. Table A-1. Descriptions of wetlands on the Anderson Property. Refer to Table A-2 for lists of species observed in these wetland areas. Wetland Photo Descriptions and Comments Jurisdictional Status Location Number s These wetland areas are located along the Wetlands Along active channel of the South Platte River and the South Platte No Photo within the trench formed by the river. Many Jurisdictional/Waters River (W-Al) parts of this area consist of exposed sand and of the United States gravel bars. Refer to Table R-1 for a list of s sties observed in this a of wetland. The major species in this wetland include Wetland along Canada thistle and chairmaker's rush (Scirpus Not Jurisdictional - abandoned A-1 americanus). Overall 68 percent of the observed Not Connected to channel species are hydrophytlc species. In the lowest other jurisdictional (W-A2) part of this area there 3-4 inches of standing wetlands -isolated water. This wetland is a cattail marsh that has developed in an excavated depression. The Not Jurisdictional - Excavated major species in the wetland was common Stock Pond excavated Wetland A-3 cattail (T~hn latifolia). In all, 88 percent of the man upland area - (W-A3) observed species are hydrophyfic. The surface isolated of the water was mostly covered with duckweed (Lemna minor). -15-