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VeRecation
<br />The vegetation of the application lands is comprised of scrub oak and
<br />sagebrush with an understory of grasses. There are stands of aspen and
<br />En,gelmann spruce-Douglas fir on the upper north facing slopes. The grasses
<br />and mountain shrubs that have been identified are western wheacgrass,
<br />Indian ricegrass, oak brush, serviceberry, chokecherry, sagebrush, mountain
<br />brome and juuegrass.
<br />There is a unique riparian zone within the Box Canyon drainage. A
<br />Gambel oak, hawthorne and chokecherry community is present for the first
<br />1/3 mile. A small grove of narrow-leaf cottonwood follows for
<br />approximately 100 feet. From this point, for the length of the canyon, the
<br />diversity of plant life dramatically increases. Amicro-climate exists
<br />wi_hin the upper two-thirds of the canyon. This is a result of the
<br />canyon's narrowness and aspect which traps in the cool air producing a
<br />diversity of plant species which include: Narrow-leaf cottonwood, box
<br />elder, Douglas fir, aspen, Gambel oak, chokecherry, serviceberry, Rocky
<br />mountain maple, mountain ash, redstem ceanochus, snowberry, sticky currant,
<br />mountain lover, western thimbleberry, Rudbeckia spp., wild raspbezry, cow
<br />parsnip, Oregon grape, false Solomon's seal, bluntseed sweetrooc, meadow
<br />rue:, lupine, violet, bedstraw, columbine, Fremont geranium, blue gentian,
<br />bracken fern, Kentucky bluegrass, western wheatgrass, and brome grass.
<br />Land Use
<br />The topography is characterized as steep north facing slopes on the • •~
<br />southeastern margin of Crar.d Mesa. The application lands are between the
<br />Notch Fork of the Gunnison River and Minnesota Creek drainages at
<br />elevations ranging from 6,100 feet co 8,500 fee[ above sea level. The
<br />application lands support wildlife use, dispersed recreaci~on and livestock
<br />grazing. _
<br />The Forest Service Amended LRMP prescription designates the trace as
<br />6B .snd 9A. Prescription 6B emphasizes livestock grazing and may provide
<br />recreation opportunities for semi-primitive non-motorized, semi-primitive
<br />motorized and roaded natural settings. Prescription 9A emphasizes
<br />management of all the components of the aquatic riparian ecosystem,
<br />The area is generally open co off road motorized use as identified on
<br />the "Gunnison Area Basin" Forest map.
<br />On the National Forest, the Dry Fork Cattle and Horse Allotment
<br />ovex:lays the proposed lease tract and is grazed by 507 permitted cattle
<br />from June 16 to October 1. Stockponds are Located throughout the tract and
<br />could possibly be used as a source For drilling water. The BLM surface is
<br />witb.in Lives cock Allotment =_~17; the allotment permits 900 sheep during
<br />the summer months.
<br />There are two rights-of-way located on the application lands managed
<br />by the BLY, one power line (COG-36666) and Colorado State Highway 153
<br />(C-31589), see Hap 1. These rights-of-way cross the northeastern portion i•
<br />of the proposed lease tract. Ai_er the application of the Coal ~.-~
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