Laserfiche WebLink
response to snow melt or intense thunderstorm events. <br />Water sampled from the drainages is quite hard, dominated by calcium and magnesium cations <br />and bicazbonate and sulfate anions. The relatively high alkalinity and pH of the system impedes <br />the solubility and transport of heavy cations, thus minimizing potential toxicity problems <br />associated with heavy metals or acid drainage. <br />No alluvial valley floors (AVF's) exist within the area to be mined. However, the alluvial <br />deposits of Goodspring Creek, Wilson Creek, and lower Elkhorn Creek meet the geomorphic and <br />irrigation criteria of an AVF and are discussed in Section B, Item XVII of this document. <br />3.2.10 Vegetation <br />Baseline vegetation information is found in Section 2.04.10, Map 4 and Exhibit 10 of the Permit. <br />Six vegetation communities and a small amount of cropland exist within the Mine permit <br />boundary. The major communities are sagebrush and mountain shrub. Communities of minor <br />significance include a juniper community in the vicinity of Streeter Mountain, scattered aspen <br />groves in the upper reaches of Streeter and Taylor Creeks, a limited riparian community along <br />Goodspring and Taylor Creeks, and a small western wheatgrass community in the southern <br />portion of the permit azea. <br />The sagebrush community occurs throughout the permit area on all elevations, slopes and soils. <br />The community has developed wherever soil moisture retention and soil depth has become <br />limiting to other vegetation communities. The overstory is dominated by big sagebrush <br />Artemisia tridentata and snowberry (Svmohoricazoos oreo hilus . Dominant grasses are <br />western wheatgrass (A~ropyron smithii), mountain brome Bromus mar ing alas) and green <br />needlegrass Sti a viridula . Major fortis include lupine Lu inus caudatus ,wild onion Allium <br />gip.), yarrow Achillea lanulosa and atrowleaf balsam root (Balsamorrhiza sa ittata . <br />15 <br />