PERMFILE108716

• Permit No: M1981080
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Section_Exhibit Name: EXHIBIT D
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• Exhibit D • III III III IIIIIIIIII
.~ r
Soil Description,:
I have given you a copy of the general soil survey map showing broad soil
• mapping units. The areas mapped have been done by using aerial photography
and moderate Sntensity field work. The mapping units delineated on the map
are not site specific and may not reflect the exact soil profile present on
the site. The mapping unit descriptions describe the typical soil pedon ex-
pected far a particular soil. Amore detailed site inspection is needed if
you have to have a mare exact evaluation.
I will base my recommendations on the information contained in the general
descriptions and edaphic conditions affecting the site. If you feel the soil
information is not specific. enough, please let me know.
Vegetation Description:
The area has two distinct ecological sites, sandy foothills and pinyon-juniper
loamy foothill complex. The sandy foothill site is typical on the Goslin grav-
elly sandy loam (Gs) mapping unit;.pinyon-juniper~foothill_on the latent-Broxn-
sto unit.(NID). .The sandy foothill_site.is_in-pnor_vegetative condition, relative
to the native (potential) vegetation. Blue.grama Ss the dominant grass and accounts
for roughly one half of -the .total annual air dry forage produced. Sand dropseed
makes up 20-percent with threeawn, false buffalo, and traces of other grasses pro=
ducing about 5 percent. Bush buckwheat, snakexeed, sunflower and mentzella prcduce
the majority of the remaining 25 percent of the annual production. Estimated
herbage production is 500 pounds per acre. Ground cover (percent of ground surface
covered by live vegetative crowns) is 10-1$ percent. Native vegetation should be
• dominantly tall grasses mixed with mid grasses; big bluestem, sand reed grass, needle-
andthread with little bluestem, blue and sideoats grams, western wheatgrass, and
sand dropseed. Total annual production should be 1000 to 1500 pounds per acre.
The Patent-Broxnsto mapping unit vegetation is representative of the transition of
loamy foothill vegetation into pinyon-juniper woodland. The midgrass aspect of the
foothill intergrades into a pinyon-juniper overstory with sparse understory vegeta-
tion as the elevation increases. The foothill site is in poor condition with blue
grams producing up to 80 percent of the production and sand dropseed about 5 per-
cent. Threeaxn grass is present only in trace amounts while bush buckwheat, snake-
xeed, winterfat russian thistle, and numerous other annual and perennial forties
Crake up the remaining 15 percent of the annual p=oduction. Estimated productlo:.
is 400 pounds air dry forage. Ground cover perccr.tage Ss 15-20 percent. Pinyon.
pine is gradually invading the foothill slopes and draws. The F-J woodland under-
stary Ss very sparse with scattered clumps of Scribners needlegrass, bush buckwheat,
skunkbush and dotted gayfeather being the most commonly occurring vegetation.
Loamy foothill sites are generally productive sites and should produce from 900 to
1500 pounds per acre. Nidgrasses, western and bluebunch wheatgrass, needleandtrread,
"green needlegrass, Indian ricegrass, little bluestem, should be present along with
blue grams.
Both foothill sites are actually somewhat drier Sn climate than the same sites
~ farther to the north Although the moisture regime plays a major role in deter-
mining the plant community, grazing pressure is often the final determining factor.
• Fast overgrazing of the area Ss mostly responsible for the poor ecological condition
of the sites. Range trend appears to be stable and not declining. Chances for
successful revegetation of the gravel pit are good if adequate care is taken to insure