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flow predominantly in response to runoff from snowmelt during the spring and intense <br /> rainfall during the summer. A portion of the flow in intermittent drainages is sustained by <br /> groundwater discharges. Pete Canyon is tributary to the North Fork, while Apache and <br /> Ciruela Canyons are tributary to the main stem of the Purgatoire River. <br /> The region is characterized by a semi-arid climate. The prevailing wind is from the <br /> southwest and average annual precipitation is 16.92 inches. The length of the growing <br /> season in the area varies from 90 to 110 days. <br /> Vegetative communities in the area of the mine can be separated into two physiognomic <br /> types; the low grassland and riparian communities along the Purgatoire River valley <br /> bottom, and forest communities dominating the slopes and upland areas along the river <br /> valley. Communities on the north-facing slope and the river valley were inventoried and <br /> found to contain four distinct vegetative communities at the New Elk Mine area; a <br /> Ponderosa Pine/Douglas community, a Ponderosa pine-oak community, a grassland <br /> community, and a riparian willow community. The Ponderosa pine-Douglas fir-oak <br /> community is found on the north-facing slope above the mine facilities at elevations <br /> above 7,600 feet. The overstory consists of mature Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir with <br /> interspersed pinon pine and Rocky Mountain juniper. The dominant shrub species is <br /> Gambel's oak. Cover is relatively sparse (12 percent) and productivity is low (62 Ib./ac). <br /> The Ponderosa pine-oak community occurs on the north facing slopes above 7,500 feet <br /> on the eastern two-thirds of the permit area. Pure Ponderosa pine stands are <br /> interspersed with Gambel's oak, pinon pine, and Rocky Mountain juniper. Vegetative <br /> cover is low (4 percent), as is productivity (44 Ib./ac). The grassland community was <br /> inventoried at the adjacent Golden Eagle Mine on a plateau above the river at 7,200 feet <br /> elevation, since no undisturbed grassland communities could be found at the New Elk <br /> Mine. Dominant grass species were blue grama and western wheatgrass, with many <br /> other minor graminoids including a number of forbs. Sage and snakeweed were the <br /> dominant shrubs. Vegetative cover can be characterized as moderate (18 percent), as <br /> is productivity (560 Ib./ac). The willow riparian community is located in the Purgatoire <br /> River drainage at an elevation of 7,400 feet at the New Elk Mine. The dominant species <br /> was willow with a diverse graminoid and forb understory. Vegetative cover is high (43 <br /> percent), as is productivity (2,140 Ib./ac). <br /> Soils in the area range from very shallow on the steep side slopes to deep, well-drained <br /> loams with a dark-colored surface layer found in the valley bottom along the Purgatoire <br /> River. <br /> Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br /> Of the 3,585 acres originally permitted at the New Elk Mine, 155 acres were already <br /> -4- <br />