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e <br />ESPEY, HUSTON 8 ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />• <br />3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION <br />3.1 REGIONAL ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />The topography of the study site is mountainous with major slopes in all <br />compass directions. Relatively flat topography occurs only along some of the <br />drainages. Most drainage valley bottoms aze narrow. Erosional processes have <br />created wider valleys along a portion of Curtis Creek and some of its tributazies. <br />Elevations range from a low of 6,800 feet to a high in excess of 8,300 feet. <br />Numerous peaks rise above 8,000 feet. Curtis Creek, a perennial stream which <br />flows through the Mine Plan Area, is intercepted by numerous tributaries as it flows <br />southwazd draining the western portion of the property. The eastern azea of the <br />property is drained by Aichers Draw, an intermittent stream flowing northwazd. <br />The soils of the permit azea were formed from sandstone and shales. <br />They range in texture from sandy to silty clay looms and aze neutral to slightly basic <br />in pH. Soils of the upland sites aze deep, well drained, and fine textured with thick <br />surface layers which have an accumulation of organic matter. Soils of the drainages <br />formed from alluvium and colluvian aze deep and moderately to poorly drained. In <br />some azeas where the bedrock is close to the surface, soils aze shallow and often <br />non-existent. <br />The climate of the region is cool, moist and continental in chazacter. <br />Meteorological data for the azea is available from a U.S. weather station in Meeker <br />which is located in a valley at a lower elevation (6,240 feet) 7 miles to the south of <br />the site. The mean annual precipitation is 15.78 inches, and the mean annual <br />temperature is 44.2°F. Maximum precipitation occurs in August through September <br />and mean annual snowfall is 5.8 feet. The mean growing season extends from June <br />11 to September 10, 91 days. The climate of the study site is influenced by <br />topography and elevation. The environment of the site is cooler, wetter and has a <br />• shorter growing season than Meeker. <br />K-10 <br />