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Fork River. Sub-watersheds that flow northeastwazd towazds the Yampa River include Dill, Temple, and <br />Watering Trough gulches, and Dry Creek. Sub-watersheds that drain south to the Williams Fork River include <br />Beny, Daton, Hayden, Dunstan, Wise, and Peck gulches. Berry, Hayden, Peck, and Watering Trough gulches, <br />and Dry Creek are characterized by perennial or intemuttent streamflows. All other streams are chazacterized <br />by ephemeral streamflows, typically flowing only in response to spring snowmelt and thunderstorm runoff. <br />The proposed exploration drilling will be conducted so as not to adversely impact any of the potentially <br />affected drainages. <br />Ground Water Resources -Groundwater occurrence within the project area is generally limited to the Trout <br />Creek and Twentymile sandstone units and the shallow alluviaUcolluvial aquifers associated with some of the <br />larger area drainages. Localized groundwater occurrences are also associated with laterally discontinuous, <br />very fine- to fine-grained sandstones, siltstones, and coal beds, which typically have low storativity and are <br />chazacterized by vaziable water yields. Groundwater recharge occurs in the uplands of the Williams Fork <br />Mountains in the southern and eastern portions of the project area and along the axis of the Sage Creek <br />Anticline. Groundwater movement is generally downdip to the north-northeast. The proposed exploration <br />activities will avoid area drainage channels, and so will not affect alluviaUcolluvial aquifers. Since the <br />proposed exploration drilling will not extend into the Trout Creek Sandstone, it will not be affected, and the <br />only bedrock aquifer that will be penetrated will be the Twentymile Sandstone. <br />Soil -Soils within the project area are formed primarily from weathered fine-grained sandstone, siltstone, and <br />shale. The dominant soils are a Paleborolls-Cryoborolls association, and are moderately-deep to deep, well- <br />drained, and have loam to fine-sandy-loam surface textures. Some areas of potentially unstable soils exist, <br />which will be evaluated within the Phased Geotechnical Study Area. <br />Ve etg anon -The project area is dominated by a Mountain Brush vegetation community, with limited azeas of <br />cropland and aspen forest woodland, and small inclusions of mesic drainage and herbaceous wetland. <br />Prevailing land uses include rangeland, pastureland, cropland, and wildlife habitat, with rangeland being the <br />dominant ]and use. Generally, rangeland areas are characterized by stands of mountain brush (dominated by <br />sagebrush/snowbeny in the lower elevations and serviceberry/Gambel's oak in the higher azeas) interspersed <br />with small open meadows with native and pastureland grasses. Cropland areas aze primarily utilized for <br />dryland wheat, while seeded pastures are dominated by mixed wheat-grasses. The only identified TES plant <br />species with some potential for occurrence within the proposed project area is the Ute Ladies Tresses orchid <br />(Spiranthes diuvialis}. Suitable habitat for this species does not occur within the previous EA boundaries and <br />a field reconnaissance did not identify any species occurrences. <br />Access and locations for the proposed exploration activities have been layed-out to utilize existing access <br />roads and two-tracks and previously disturbed areas to the extent feasible, therefore, the proposed exploration <br />activities should not significantly impact existing vegetation communities. Temporary impacts to cropping <br />and gazing activities are anticipated and will be addressed, to the extent feasible, by coordinated scheduling <br />and surface damage agreements with surface ownersQessees. <br />Wildlife -The aspen forest and mountain shrub vegetation types in this area provide good year-round habitat <br />for deer, elk, and other large mammals. The dominant sandstone cliffs provide nest sites for raptors and other <br />birds. Elk and mule deer are the major big-game species inhabiting the azea. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (USFWS) has identified winter range and critical winter range within the project and adjacent areas, <br />and field surveys indicate some elk calving activity at the higher elevations. Sage and sharp-tail grouse are <br />known to inhabit or utilize the area, with known sharp-tail leks in the northern portion of the project area. <br />Potential raptor habitat and known nesting sites occur in the cliffs to the south of the project azea. No TES <br />animal species are known to occur in the project azea. <br />G:\Environmencal\EXPLORATION WORK\EXPLR 2006 BIG ELK\Big Elk 2006 NOI App. Form.doc Page 8 of 11 <br />