2006-06-02_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (5)

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West Elk Mine Symphoricarpos rotundifolius was the second most dense woody species with 72.6 stems/100 squaze meters (2938.0 stems/acre). Four remaining woody species accounted for the remaining density as follows: Amelanchier alnifolia with 7.8 stems/100 squaze meters (315.7 stems/acre), Prunes virginiana with 5.7 stems/100 square meters (229.3 stems/acre), Rosa woodsii with 3.3 stems/100 square meters (132.2 stems/acre), and Juniperus osteosperma with 0.6 stems/100 square meters and 24.3 stems/acre. Within the 1995 RPE azea sampling three life-forms were represented; graminoids, fortis, and woody azborescent species. The life-forms included four species of perennial grasses, one annual grass, five perennial fortis, and seven woody shrubs. Of the seventeen species encountered during cover sampling on the RPE area, fifteen were native (three grasses, five fortis, and seven woody shrubs) and two were introduced (two grasses). As would be expected in a lazgely undisturbed old age shrub dominated community, introduced species accounted for only 2.13 percent of the mean vegetation cover on the RPE azea in the 1995 sampling. The single introduced annual accounted for 0.13 percent mean cover and 0.10 percent relative cover. Seasonality of RPE azea species was predominantly cool season, with one perennial forb being identified as warm season. Woody species were predominantly deciduous, with two species being evergreen. Table 1 provides a listing and chazacterization of the plant species encountered during cover sampling at the RPE azea. Five species of the seventeen encountered during cover sampling accounted for greater than three percent relative cover. Four of the five species were woody plants. These species included: Quercus gambelii with 77.91 percent relative cover, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius with 7,17 percent relative cover, Amelanchier alnifolia with 3.97 percent relative cover, Juniperus osteosperma providing 3.78 percent relative cover, and Poa pratensis with 3.10 percent relative cover. Minor Vegetation Communities Within the RPE area there is one wetland vegetation community located south of the State Highway 133 right-of--way and generally in the center of the RPE azea. This wetland azea is located at the lowest elevation within the RPE azea (approximately 6,080 ft. above MSL). Areal extent of this area is approximately 0.88 acres. The wetland that will be impacted is located in an essentially "closed basin" bounded by steep slopes to the south and an elevated section of State Highway 133. This wetland is a palustrine emergent wetland. It appeazs that the hydrology of the area has resulted from the presence of the highway embankment, which effectively isolates the wetland from the river. That is, the embankment acts as a dam that prevents surface outflow from the wetland. The embankment itself is 40 to 50 feet high. The result of the current conditions is that the wetland is essentially an anthropogenic (i.e., human caused) wetland. The source of water that supports the wetland vegetation community in this azea is postulated to be surface water runoff from the RPE azea slope and toeslope, as well as surface runoff from the adjacent roadway. Given the presence of outcropping bedrock springs above the North Fork of the Gunnison River at approximately this elevation, the wetland community may be additionally supplied with subsurface water through interconnection with fractures or springs. Some groundwater seepage may occur from the wetland to the river via groundwater. However, the site 2.04-154 RevisedNwember 1004 PRIG