Laserfiche WebLink
Land Use <br />Land use information is found in Tab 4 and in Exhibit 4-1 of the permit application. <br />Regional land use patterns are shown in Figure 1, Tab 4 of the permit application. Specific <br />findings are described in Section B, Item XI of this document. <br />Land use in the permit and adjacent area is primarily agricultural, rangeland, industrial (a <br />regional airport Routt County maintenance facility) and wildlife habitat. There is some <br />farming currently being practiced along the northern portion of the railroad spur and to the <br />south of the loadout facility, winter wheat being the principle crop grown. Most of the <br />disturbance associated with the construction of the loadout occurred in areas historically <br />utilized for crop production but which were taken out of production and seeded with <br />introduced grasses prior to construction of the loadout. <br />Historically, grazing pressure has been heavy in the Dry Creek drainage and adjacent <br />alkaline shrublands. Grazing use is being precluded within the permit area during the life <br />of operation of the loadout. A variety of wildlife species use the area's rangeland and <br />seeded cropland areas. Use by some species may decrease while the loadout and railroad <br />spur is in operation. <br />The Yampa Valley Airport is located .25 miles east of the permit area. No private <br />dwellings are in close proximity to the permit area. <br />The loadout currently has a special use permit and is in compliance with the land use plans <br />of both Routt County and the Town of Hayden. <br />Postmining land use will consist of utilization for grazing and wildlife <br />Geolo <br />More detailed geologic information, including geologic maps and a generalized geologic <br />cross-section, can be found in Tab 6 of the permit application. <br />The HG Loadout is situated approximately two [Hiles north of the Williams Fork Mountains <br />and within Dry Creek Drainage. The Lewis Shale Formation, a predominantly dark-gray <br />to bluish, homogenous marine shale, is the only formation to outcrop in the permit area. <br />Lewis Shale forms gently sloping hillsides on either side of the nearly level alluvial valley <br />floors and terraces found along Dry Creek (which traverses the permit area). <br />Surface waters do not appear to be in contact with the Twentymile Sandstone; a significant <br />regional aquifer which underlies the Lewis Shale. More detailed information on ground <br />water movement is found below and in Tabs 7, 14 and 15 of the permit application. <br />