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United States Department of Agriculture o ~ RCS Natural Resources Conservation Service 970-264-5516-OFFICE ' Pagosa Springs Field Office 970-264-4660-FAX P.O. Box 419 344 Hwy 84 www.co.nres.usda.gov Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 jerry.archuleta@co.usda.gov Site Description Soils Information -The primary soil type in the proposed pit location is A=-:`.B -Sandy, Skeletal Fluvets, 0 to 3 percent slopes. See attached map unit descriptions for detailed soils information. Vegetative Information -This area is described mostly as a Riverbottom range site. The understory for the native potential plant community would consist of mostly Western wheatgrass, Slender wheatgrass, Blue grama, Needle-n-Thread grass and Alkali sacaton with some Sedges, Redtop, and Sand dropseed. Forbs and shrubs that would be present include Hairy goldaster, Wormwood, Fringed sage, Four-Wing saltbush, and Horsetail. Present vegetation consists primarily of Blue Grama, Needle-n-Thread grass, Redtop and Western wheatgrass with smaller amounts of Sleepygrass, Fringed sagebrush, Wooly mullein, Hairy goldaster, Current and Four-Wing saltbush. Tree species present are Ponderosa pine, Cottonwood and Rocky Mt. Juniper. The vegetative ground cover is 15°/n and current production on the site is estimated to be about 400 lbs./ac of total dry matter. Climatic Information -Precipitation averages about 16 inches annually with about 30 to 40% falling as snow and 40 to 45% falling between May 1St and September 30°i. Snows during March and April can amount to significant moisture in some years. Summer moisture is mostly from thundershowers in late July, August, and September. A dry period from May to early July is tvnical with June normally being the driest month. Wide yearly and monthly deviations are .. _ : ncn. The most active growth period f~° native plants ^.',? ~~ starts in April. It extends through r•rest of Jure for some plants but eniis in iate May Sir ~.:,e, ~. !vli~ry plants can again take advantage of late summer rains if in good vigor. Mean annual temperabares are 45 to 48 degrees F., with afrost-free period of 90 to 140 days. Annual range in temperature is from 90 to -15 degrees F., although higher and lower extremes aze sometimes recorded. Water Resources. The San Juar_ ?.iver r~rs to the East of the project site and during mining activities ground water will be inter~~pted. All drainage created by the mining activities should be contained and sediment allowed to settle out before returning it to the San Juan River to avoid any detrimental effects to water quality. The Natural Resource Conservation Service works in partnership with the American People to conserve and sustain natural resources on private lands. An Equal Opportunity Provider antl Employer.