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The two vegetation types that occur within the area to be affected by surface facilities are a dry
<br /> meadow type and a moist, mixed shrub type.
<br /> In a 1994 Environmental Analysis (EA) produced by the Uncompahgre Basin Resource Area of
<br /> the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on the Jumbo Mountain coal lease, one plant species,
<br /> the Grand Mesa penstemon (Penstemon mensarum, a Federal category 2 species) was noted as
<br /> having the potential to occur in the area. The EA further required a threatened and endangered
<br /> plant survey prior to any surface disturbance. Additional and updated vegetation information
<br /> was collected and submitted with the Apache Rocks Permit Revision. Although the species is
<br /> abundant on the MCC property, no operations currently threaten the plants.
<br /> In 1996, a baseline vegetation study of the Sylvester Gulch facilities area was conducted. The
<br /> report is presented in Exhibit 32A of the permit document. The study area for the baseline
<br /> survey incorporated the lower drainage basin of Sylvester Gulch from the mine access road
<br /> south approximately 1.75 miles along the drainage. The three lower drainage branches of
<br /> Sylvester Gulch were included. The study area was a linear corridor, including the drainage
<br /> bottom, terraces and sideslopes, averaging 300 feet wide. The study area also included the
<br /> steep slope west of the Sylvester Gulch charnel and north of the Dry Meadow Reference Area.
<br /> Five major vegetation communities were identified in the Sylvester Gulch facilities expansion
<br /> area are: oakbrush, aspen, riparian dry meadow, and Douglas fir communities. The first three
<br /> of these communities were sampled for vegetative cover, vegetative productivity, woody plant
<br /> density and species composition. The dry meadow community was found to be significantly
<br /> altered by cattle grazing within the study area. Since this community had been sampled
<br /> previously, no further data was collected. The Douglas fir community was anticipated to be
<br /> impacted to a minor degree with disturbance in this community limited to less than five percent
<br /> of the affected area. Therefore, no quantitative data was collected for the Douglas Fir
<br /> community.
<br /> Fish and Wildlife - Rule 2.04.11
<br /> Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area. The most predominant are mule deer,
<br /> American elk, and black bear. Other species include: coyotes, long-tailed weasels, desert
<br /> cottontails, snowshoe hare, beaver, raccoon. Red squirrel, woodrat, ringtails, yellow marmots,
<br /> ermine, skunk, muskrat, badger, porcupine, bobcat, white-tailed jackrabbit, marten, mink, red
<br /> fox, grey fox, spotted skunk, deer mouse, long-tailed vole, golden-mantled ground squirrel,
<br /> chipmunk, red-backed vole, rock squirrel, western jumping mouse, masked shrew, wandering
<br /> shrew, various songbirds, upland gamebirds, waterfowl, and raptors.
<br /> There is no designated critical habitat on the study area. However, the Fish and Wildlife
<br /> Service has proposed 2.094 river miles of the Colorado River and its tributaries as critical
<br /> habitat for the Colorado Squawfish, Razorback sucker, Humpback chub, and Bonytail chub.
<br /> These species, on the Federal and State candidate and listed species, have the potential of
<br /> occurring on the study area, or could be affected by a lease and subsequent coal development.
<br /> None of the fishes occur on the study area, or in the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
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