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The alluvial material also has relatively low hydraulic conductivity (approximately 0.1 to <br />O.OI feet/day) due to its high composition of silts and clays. These alluvial waters are of <br />poor quality due to the proximity of the Lewis shale, contributions from agriculture, and <br />the ephemeral nature of Dry Creek (although the applicant reports that water is taken <br />from Dry Creek below the loadout and used for irrigation). <br />Please see Section B, Item III of this document for discussion of the probable hydrologic <br />consequences (PHC) of the loadout and railroad Loop on ground water quantity aztd <br />quality and for a further discussion of the ground water monitoring plan. <br />Vegetation <br />Baseline vegetation information is found in Tab 4, Exhibits 4-1 and 10-1 of the permit <br />application. <br />Existing vegetative communities within the permit area consist of dryland and improved <br />pasturelands, and native rangelands. Pasturelands that were disturbed during construction <br />of the loadout have been revegetated to intermediate wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, <br />western wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, Russian Wildrye, timothy, alfalfa, and yellow <br />sweetclover. Undisturbed native rangelands are dominated by sagebrush, grease~vood, <br />and rubber rabbitbrush communities. These later plant species tend to be adapted. to <br />alkaline soils. <br />Wi d e <br />Detailed information on matters relating to fish and wildlife issues is found in Tabs 11 <br />.and 21; and Exhibit 11-1 of the permit application. A summary of that information is <br />found both here and in Section B, Item XII of this document (along with fmdings relevant <br />to fish and wildlife issues). <br />Four habitat types have been distinguished and described for the permit azea: 1) aquatic <br />areas associated with streams and impoundments, 2) saline/alkaline shrublands, 3) <br />saline/alkaline meadows and 4) areas disturbed as a result of construction of the I ~adout, <br />abandoned croplands and lands improved for pazture. Lists of possible species o1~ <br />mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, ofnon-critical concern, have been constructed <br />using distribution ]atilong studies developed for the State of Colorado. <br />A biological inventory of stream bottom fauna for Dry Creek was conducted in <br />association with the permit application for the nearby Seneca I[-W Ivtine (Permit C 82- <br />057). All listed threatened or endangered species in the area, as well as, other species of <br />concern have been referred to in the permit and their habitat requirements and poi.ential <br />for occurrence described (as requested by both the Division and USFWS). For <br />information on protection afforded to Dry Creek's aquatic community and any theatened <br />and endangered species and other species of concern possibly present, please refer to <br />Section B, Item XII of this document. <br />