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• <br />t <br />• <br />-99- <br />2.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT <br />2.2.1 General Ecology of the Region <br />The site of F~ergy Fuels' proposed coal strip mine expansion <br />lies within the Coloradan biotic province of North American (Dice, 1943). <br />This biotic province extends from south of the Teton, Gros Ventre, Wind <br />River and Bighorn mountain ranges in Wyoming south to include the Wasatch <br />and Uinta Mountains in Utah, all o'_ the very mountainous regions of <br />Colorado, and the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern few <br />Mexico. High elevations characterize the entire Coloradan province which <br />generally consists of high plains, steep mountains, and gently rolling <br />mountain parks. Five obvious life zones occur within the Coloradan <br />province: alpine, subalpiae, montane, grassland and sagebrush life <br />zones. <br />The uppermost alpine life zone extends frem treeline to the <br />crests of the high mountain ranges. In northern Colorado the alpine <br />life zone is mostly above 11,000 feet in elevation and is composed o: <br />alpine tundra, rocky summits, rockfields, alpine la'res, meadows, and <br />permanent or temporary snowbanks. This life zone covers small areas <br />and is treeless. The vegetatior. is composed largely of low herbaceous <br />species, with scattered low or dwarf shrubs. <br />The subalpine life belt of the Coloradan orovince is dominated <br />in most places by Engelmann Spruce (Ficea engelmanaii) and Alpine Fir <br />(Abies laSiOCdrDa). numerous ;willows (Salix spp.), Aspen (Fonulus <br />tremuloides), and shrubby vegetation occur in open sit::acions or along <br />streams. Slow succession occurs in the subalpine belt. Following fires <br />OYMES ~ MOORE <br />