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<br />general description for this soil shows that [he upper surface layer is typically 7 inches thick while <br />the lower subsoil layer is 23 inches thick. Actual site measurements have shown [hat for [his permit <br />area, the upper zone averages 5 inches thick while the subsoil averages approximately 12 to 14 <br />inches thick. <br />Vegetation <br />See enclosed report in Appendix A recently supplied by the local SCS office in Walsenburg. This <br />report shows that the permit area is located in what is known as the Loamy Foothills range site. The <br />majority of the plants are grasses such as Western Wheatgrass, Green Needlegrass, Blue Grama, Big <br />Bluestem and Sun Sedge. Forbs also found on the site include Drummond Milkvetch, Upright Prai- <br />rie Coneflower and Dotted Greyfeather. Although the average percent cover is not stated in the cur- <br />rent SCS report, the old report done for the County pit (in the same range site) lists an average cover <br />of 35%. Personal communication with the Walsenburg office confirms that this is the approximate <br />live cover in the permit area. <br />Wildlife <br />As shown on Map Exhibit B-1, the site is located on a small mesa bordered by dry arroyos on the <br />north and south sides. The slopes of the arroyos contain Gambel's Oak which are used by mammals <br />of all types for shelter. This plan does not contain any disturbance within these Gambel Oak slope <br />areas. The site is also not within any critical migration path for deer or elk, although the range <br />grasses are used sporadically for wildlife grazing. Since the amount of disturbed area at any one <br />time is less than 3.4 acres, it cannot be considered a significant wildlife impact. Also, the <br />revegetation plan designed by [he Walsenburg office of [he SCS provides for a more diverse plant <br />species community than that which currently exists, therefore, after reclamation in 6-7 years, the site <br />use for wildlife grazing should improve. <br />The previous Huerfano County Pit was approved for the adjacent site by the Colorado Division of <br />Minerals and Geology in 1989 and the subsequent reclamation was deemed good since the full bond <br />was released in 1995. <br />Ferrero Pit 2/00 <br />