GENERAL50503 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Soil Types. The permit area is occupied by three soil orders: Aridisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. These soil orders aze characteristic of fairly steep, semi-and regions of northwestern Colorado. They represent soils that grade from recently developed soil bodies with minimum horizon development (Entisols) to older soils with well-defined diagnostic horizons (Mollisols). Soil Characteristics and Distribution. Overall, the soils found in the proposed permit area aze relatively deep and fairly well-drained. Effective rooting depth varies from two to sixty inches within the area. The deepest soils yielding the greatest rooting depths occur in valleys and on the leewazd sides of ridges. Soil reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline in the permit azea with the exception small scattered azeas where substrata are saline. These small areas have probably formed in place from weathered sodic shales. Vegetation Communities. Vegetation communities in the permit azea range from an upland mountain shrub community to cottonwood-willow communities in the riparian zone next to the Williams Fork and Yampa Rivers. Juniper or big sagebrush communities dominate more xeric sites throughout the permit azea. Lands disturbed by mining aze upland big sagebrush and mountain shrub communities, croplands, and previously mined lands. The croplands aze previously mined lands. There are two types of croplands: 1) irrigated hayfields in the fertile river bottom azeas, and 2) dryland wheat, found on cleared hillsides which were once sage- dominated. Several areas disturbed by former mining operations are within the disturbed azeas. Wildlife. Wildlife habitat in the permit azea is diverse. It is used extensively by mule deer, elk and pronghorn antelope. Known predators include badger, cougaz, coyote, red fox and bobcat. Small game and forbearing mammals include the cottontail rabbit, white tailed jackrabbit, raccoon, beaver, muskrat, striped skunk and weasel, Many species of birds aze also found within the permit boundary. Of special interest are vazious species of waterfowl, raptors (including the golden and bald eagles), the sandhill crane, Columbian sharptail grouse and the sage grouse. Fish species in the Williams Fork River, within the disturbed area, include vazious suckers and minnows, mottled scuplin, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. Cultural and Historic Resources. There aze 31 known cultural and historic resource sites within the permit azea. Land Uses. Land uses within the proposed surface disturbed azea aze cropland, pastureland and rangeland/ wildlife habitat. Mining has occurred within the permit azea since the 1930s. Much of the area has been previously disturbed by surface and/or underground mining activities. The Eagle No. 5 Mine has been in existence since 1971. Summary of the Mine Oaeration Plan Current Operational Status. Operations at the Eagle mines were placed in temporary cessation on December 3, 1995 due to mazket conditions. Currently, only maintenance and hydrologic monitoring activities aze being conducted. The Eagle Mines consist of three underground mines, the Nos. 5, 6, and 9, and a reclaimed surface mine known as the Williams Fork Strip Pit No. 2. The No. 5 portal was permanently sealed in 1997 and partially backfilled. The coal storage area, surface conveyors, silos and No. 5 yard and warehouse area remain intact. The Mine No. SA portals were sealed in 2003. The SA portal ventilation fan was idled and awaits resumption of