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Rob Laird • • Frank Green and Croissant Properties Page 2 the surface drainage follows a natral channel or swalq the U.S. Army Corps of Eng'meers (Corps) will exert jurisdiction over the drainage, including the channel and all associated wetlands For the altered drainage areas, including the reeently constructed ditch, the Corps will claim jurisdiction on the basis that the ditch intercepts natural seeps or leaky, seeping, or uncontrolled irrigation water, all considered to be watcrs of the United States. Four farm ponds are located within the Frank Green property. Three of the farm ponds ace found surrounding the residence along Weld County Road 13. The .rnra;ning, pond, which is also the largest in area, is located below the secondary alluvial terrace near the east boundary of the Frank Green propexiy. The Coops wi11 claim jurisdiction of all of the ponds, as waters of the United States or natrual resources. The claim is based on the groundwater and/or scepage source for water. fillin the ponds. Regular maintenance of the ponds for agricultural purposes would not be regulated. Jurisdictional Wetlands Regulated jurisdictional wetlands encountered in Colorado include submergent, emergent, wet meadows, sloughs, surface water drainage ditches, bogs, and potholes Within the Property, submergent, emergent, and wet meadow types of jurisdictional wetlands were observed. Submergent wetlands are those wetlands which contain vegetation which is rooted on the bottom of a channel and does not grow out of the water. This type of wetland is contained within the flowing channel of the surface drainage and Big Thompson River described above. Emergent wetlands are those areas where the vegetation is rooted in a saturated or inundated area and the vegetation emerges from the wet area. Within the properties, emergent jurisdictional wetlands were observed along several relict meanders, ditches, and at the toe of the secondary alluvial terrace. These areas appeared to be old geomorphic features, with topography lower than the surrounding area and hydrophytic vegetation (sedges and rushes). These areas may represent jurisdictional wetlands. Wet meadow wetlands are areas that have sufficient hydrologic connectivity to support hydrophytic vegetation throughout the year. Typically, these areas support a mix of sedges, rushes, and wetland grasses and forbs that remain ~n throughout the growing season. Throughout both properties there are areas that reveal vegetation typical of wet meadow wetlands. These areas form a mosaic on the primary alluvial terrace of the Big Thompson River and extend from Weld County Road 54 to the toe of the secondary teaace to the south. Wet meadow wetlands are often ephemeral and dependent on a reliable source of near surface water.