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Messrs. Crane and Banta September 11, 1~ Page 3 STUDY AREA Location: The study area includes Energy Fuels Corporation's Eckman Park coal lease and a large portion of the surrounding area including most of T4N, R861J excluding the south-east quarter of this block. However, it included sections bordering the above area to the north, west and southwest. More detail about location is found in the maps referred to in the results. Topography: The major topographic feature of the area is a long high ridge that trends northeasterly. The ridge has a steep escarpment ending at Middle Creek. The northwest slope is gentle and uniform to Foidel Creek. Eleva- tion ranges from 2,130 m. (7,000 ft.) to 2,500 m. (8,200 feet). Water Resources: The study area lies in the Trout Creek drainage system which heads in Rio Blanco County and flows north through the south-central part of Routt County to its confluence with the Yampa River. The major tributaries of Trout Creek in the area are Middle Creek, Fish Creek, and Foidel Creek. AL1 streams of the drainage system have small, intermittent tributaries. Climate: Wind speed in the study area varies with the time of day. Afternoon wind speed averages 4 meters-per-second (6 mph). Precipitation in the area averages 41 cm. (16 inches) annually. Temperature is subject to large seasonal and daily variations. In July, temperatures range from an average high of 27°C (81°F) to an average low of 6.7°C (44°F). January temperatures range from 0.0°C (32°F) to -17°C (1.4°F), respectively. Soils: The soils found in the study area are delineated on Eckman Park soils (Map 30, Energy Fuels Mining and Reclamation Plan). Vegetation: Four major vegetation types occur in the study area: grassland, sagebrush, mountain shrub and aspen. The grassland type occurs as iso- lated mountain meadows and small parks among aspen and mountain shrub types. Species occurring in the grassland type are needlegrasses (stipa spp.), bluegrasses (Poa spp.), and bromes (Broums spp.). The sagebrush type occurs at elevations below the mountain shrub type. Species occur- ring in this type are sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), wheatgrasses (Agropyron spp.), and onion (Allium spp.). The mountain shrub type is found on the highest slopes and lower north-facing slopes. Species occurring in this type are gambel oak (Quercus sp.), serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), and chokecherry (Prunus sp.). The aspen type is found in the highest areas of best soil moisture conditions. Most aspen is mixed with the mountain shrub type.