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2.04.10 Vegetation <br />Area Description <br />The distribution of vegetation types in western Colorado is controlled <br />primarily by precipitation and soil moisture (Bureau of Land Management <br />1979). These in turn are modified by altitude, slope, aspect, vegetation <br />cover, and nature of the substrate. Aspect strongly affects soil moisture <br />in that north-facing slopes have a much lower evapotranspiration rate than <br />south-facing slopes. This results in more mesic vegetation types growing <br />on protected northern slopes, while more xeric vegetation types occur on <br />drier south-facing slopes. <br />This relationship is well demonstrated at the Hawk's Nest Mine. The <br />North Fork Valley in the area of the mine is quite narrow, steep-sided, and <br />• is generally oriented east-west. The north-facing slopes on the south side <br />of the Gunnison River are covered with dense oak shrub at the lower eleva- <br />tions with Douglas-fir and occasional patches of aspen above. North of the <br />river, the oak shrub occurs along the river bottom and lower slopes, then <br />is replaced by a band of pinyon-juniper woodland on steep, rocky slopes above. <br />The oak shrub then reappears above the juniper where slope and moisture are <br />more favorable. All areas affected by the Hawk's Nest Mine are on lower <br />south-facing slopes adjacent to the river and support only oak shrub or <br />riparian vegetation. <br />Vegetation Types <br />The vegetation types of the mine site and adjacent areas are shown on <br />the vegetation map (Exhibit 2.04.10-A). The areas of mine disturbance, the <br />• <br />2.04-41 <br />