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1 <br />r~ • • <br />COOLEY AND FULTON LAKES PIT <br />EYHIBIT J -VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />A survey ofvegetation on the site, particularly to determine the presence of Spiranthes diluvialis, Ute <br />Ladies Tresses Orchid, was conducted on the property in the fall of 1997 and is attached as part of <br />this Exhibit J. There was no indication of this orchid at time of the survey. If present, this orchid <br />would likely be restricted to the riparian zone along the River. The proposed mining plan is to <br />preserve this area. Therefore, even if found to be present on site at a later date, the proposed plan <br />is not likely to lead to the destruction of any habitat where the orchid either might exist or could <br />become established. <br />In preparing recommendations for revegetation, representatives of the Natural Resources Soil <br />Conservation Service also visited the site in November, and made comments on the existing <br />vegetation conditions. The NRSC comments are also attached. <br />A brief summary of the existing vegetation, and the affect the mining will have on the existing <br />vegetation, is given below by the parcels identified on Exhibit C-1, Pre-Mining/Existing Conditions <br />b1ap: <br />A - There are existing stands of cottonwood and willows, particularly in the center of the parcel <br />and along 104°i Avenue. Ground cover consists ofnon-irrigated grasses, but there is also a <br />strong presence of Leafy spurge noxious weed. The existing center tree stand and mast of the <br />trees along 104"' Avenue will e preserved as much as possible. No mining or disturbance will <br />occur west of the existing east high bank along the S. Platte River. It is the intent of the <br />operator to orily excavate the areas northwest and northeast of the center tree stand and <br />create new wetland areas. The consultant who will provide an inventory of the wetlands will <br />also develop a revegetation plan to create wetlands in the excavated areas of this parcel. <br />B - There are some scattered tree stands on the site, but mostly the site has ground cover <br />consisting on non-irrigated grasses with the same Leafy spurge and other noxious weed <br />species. There is also a 1+ acre area of probablejurisdictional wetlands along the Fulton Ditch <br />in the center of this parcel. No mining or disturbance will occur west of the existing east high <br />bank along the S. Platte River. It is the intent of the operator to excavate all of the areas of <br />this site between the east side of the existing east high bank along the S. Platte River to the <br />allowed setbacks from the Fulton Ditch on the east, the Northglenn Pipeline on the south, and <br />the PSCo. right-of--way on the north. Upon completion of mining, this area will be utilized to <br />discharge wash water from the Plant Site to the south Therefore, it is anticipated that this <br />area will eventuaity become a shallow lake and/or wetlands area with extensive wetland <br />vegetation. , <br /> <br />