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Page 5-10 Summary February 2000 • Pinon/Juniper Douglas fir Cottonwood Spruce/fir Grass/fort Bare A number of noxious weed species are known to be of concern in Delta and Gunnison counties. These species include Russian knapweed, hoary cress, yellow toadflax, Canada thistle, musk thistle, and scotch thistle. No federally listed threatened or endangered plant species are known to exist on either coal lease tract or the exploration license area. A "forest-sensitive" species, Hapman's coolwort, could be present in the Hubbard Falls area. Environmental Consequences -The construction of various borehole, shaft, and access road facilities would directly affect a maximum of approximately 33.5 acres of vegetation. The primary vegetation communities to be affected include the oak and aspen vegetation types. The resulting loss of any timber or grazing resources would be minimal, with the potential for a slight long-term increase in grazing potential possible following revegetation activities. It is unlikely that any measurable impact to vegetation would occur as a result of mine subsidence. S-3.8 Wetlands • Existing Conditions - No formal delineations of wetlands or other Waters of the U.S. were completed on either the coal lease tracts or the exploration license area. Seep and spring information was compiled for the coal lease tracts and the exploration area. Wetland and riparian plant communities, other than those associated with seeps, springs, and stockponds, are typically confined to the borders of creeks and drainage channels. Wetland hydrology is provided primarily by channel flooding and lateral flow. Wetland/upland transition zones are typically narrow to abrupt as a function of channel topography. Wetland vegetation communities are comparatively simplistic in terms of diversity, typically being dominated by a few hydric species. The tree stratum, where it occurs, is dominated by narrow-leaf cottonwood and boxelder at lower elevations. Aspen is the common tree of wetlands occurring at higher elevations. Dominant wetland shrubs inGude a variety of species such as coyote willow and plane-leaf willow, thinleaf alder, and red- osierdogwood. Springs and seeps in the region typically support willows along with a variety of grasses and forts. Springs and seeps on nearly level to moderate terrain, particularly at higher elevations, support herbaceous communities characterized by species such as California false-hellebore, streamside bluebells, and various sedges. Stockponds are man-made features which are filled either by springs or from overland runoff. Wetlands occurring in assoaation with developed stockponds are typically limited to a narrow bank fringe- dominated primarily by spikerush and rush species. Other species such as small-winged sedge, clustered field sedge, northwest cinquefoil, and a variety of butter-cups may also be present. Environmental Consequences - Impacts, which would vary by action alternative, are directly • associated with potential subsidence and possible dewa.tering in Hubbard and Terror creeks. With dewatering of the D coal seam during operations, some wetlands along Hubbard Creek could be affected. Depending upon the size of the reduction, the wetland/riparian area boundary zones might shrink along the margins of Hubbard Creek. Dominant wetland herbaceous species inhabiting this