Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk Mine <br />Sylvester Gulch. Riparian types occur along the floodplain of the North Fork of the Gunnison River <br />and along the drainages of the East Fork of the Minnesota Creek, Sylvester Gulch, and the unnamed <br />ephemeral drainage between Sylvester Gulch and Box Canyon. <br />The riparian area sampled is located on soil mapping unit number X26. The tree stratum of the <br />riparian community consisted of three species, none common, providing seven percent cover. Box- <br />elder and aspen were the most important species sampled. Saplings of both species were also found <br />in the shrub stratum. <br />Ten species were sampled in the shrub stratum, providing total cover of 58 percent. The shrub <br />stratum consisted of two layers, a tall one containing hawthorn and box-elder clumps ranging in <br />height up to 5 m (15 ft.). Shrub height was relatively uniform among species in the lower stratum, <br />averaging around 0.5 m (1.6 ft.). Serviceberry and snowbeny were the most important species <br />sampled, providing 20 percent relative cover. <br />Sixteen species (two graminoid, 14 forb species) were sampled in the herbaceous stratum, <br />collectively providing 25 percent cover. Height of the different species was variable, ranging from <br />5 to 30 cm (2-6 in.). Kentucky bluegrass was the most important graminoid species, providing nine <br />percent cover, and occurring in all azeas sampled. No cleazly dominant forb species was appazent. <br />The highest importance values were calculated for buttercup (Ranunculus sp.) and wild lettuce <br />(Lactuca serriola). Of the species sampled, a large component (50 percent) consisted of introduced <br />pasture or common non-native species. Examples include Kentucky bluegrass, dandelion, smooth <br />brome (Bromus inermis), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and white clover (Trifolium pratense). Litter <br />cover was spazse (less than 25 percent) in this type. <br />Wetlands <br />Few wetlands exist in the study area. Based upon inspection of conventional and infrared <br />aerial photographs and reconnaissance-level field investigation, there are approximately 105 <br />acres of potential jurisdictional wetlands (as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <br />[USAGE]) in the permit area. Field surveys conducted in August 1995 verified this estimate. <br />Most of the wetlands are found in drainage channels, although there are small, isolated <br />wetlands on the hillsides where springs and seeps occasionally emerge as a result of <br />landslides/slumps. <br />WWE inventoried the wetlands and riparian zones within the South of Divide area in the <br />fall of 1997 and 2004. Based on these studies, there are approximately 182 acres of <br />wetland/riparian vegetation in the South of Divide permit area. Wetlands occur in four <br />types of locations; (1) Along the channel bottoms, (2) In association with beaver activity, (3) <br />At seeps or springs, and (4) Along the margins of stock ponds. The vast majority of the <br />wetland acreage is located along the Dry Fork and Lick Creek riparian corridors. In the <br />South of Divide permit area, small wet meadow exist in places along the stream channels of <br />Minnesota Creek and Dry Fork. These meadows typically have a seasonally high water <br />table, may possess hydric soils, and support wetland vegetation such as rushes, sedges, <br />water-tolerant grasses, and willows. For a comparison of the 1997 and 2004 inventories see <br />exhibit 32B. <br /> <br />2.04-/43 Revised November 2004 PR/0 <br />