PERMFILE132471

• Permit No: M2002004
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 7/8/2002
• Doc Name: Response to Preliminary Adequacy Review ‎(EXH. G THRU N)‎
• From: GCC Rio Grande Inc
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• EXHIBIT J VEGETATION INFORMATION
BACKGROUND
Information regarding the vegetation in the project azea has been gathered using the published soil survey
for the Pueblo area (Larson et al., 1979), site-specific vegetation study for GCC Rio Grande, Inc., and
observations made by Greystone during May 2001 and June 2002 site visits. Exhibit J describes the
vegetation that occurs in the project area and provides data to be used in formulating a reclamation plan
(Exhibit E) for the disturbed areas. This exhibit includes the following subsections:
• Vegetation Types Present
• Relationship of Vegetation to Soil Types
• Species of Specia] Concern
• References
VEGETATION TYPES PRESENT
As illustrated by Exhibit C-2, the site consists of flat rangeland with native vegetation. The vegetation
type is primarily shortgrass prairie dominated by buffalo grass, blue grama, and few low shrubs and forbs.
Vegetation Types also include outcroppings of limestone and riparian areas. Ground cover was estimated
at 60 percent grasses and approximately 10 percent forbs in the summer of 2001. Observations in the
spring of 2002 suggest only 50% grasses and 10%forbs. Some of the native vegetation in the project area
• has been disturbed by grazing. This has allowed the establishment of some weed species, such as musk
thistle, sunflower, cocklebur, wild gourd, mullein, and kochia. Table J-1 lists species that may occur in
the project area.
The chazacteristic vegetation feature in the project area is candelabra cactus, which provides the most
significant tall shrub component on the plant and surface mine site. Other succulents that are present
include prickly pear and yucca. Tall shrub cover is estimated at three percent; low shrub cover is
approximately three percent.
The project area is cut by several shallow ephemeral drainages. These drainages are relatively flat and
dominated by rangeland plains species. The main riparian zone includes cottonwood, saltcedar, and
rabbitbrush occurring on the St. Charles River at the north end of the project area. Cottonwood was also
observed near one stock pond on the project area. The only other tree component in the area is one-seeded
juniper, that occurs near limestone outcrops on the northwest side of the project area. The estimated tree
cover for the project area is two percent.
RELATIONSHIP OF VEGETATION TO SOIL TYPES
Three soil units are found at the project area. Refer to the soils map in Exhibit I. Manvel silt loam, I-5
percent slopes, covers most of the project area. The native vegetation occurring on this soil type is mainly
plains grasses, and winterfat. The average annual production of air-dry vegetation is about 1,200 pounds
per acre. Penrose-Minnequa complex, 1 to 15 percent slopes, occurs in strips throughout the project area.
On this soil type, the native vegetation is mainly plains grasses, yucca, Bigelow sagebrush, and some
sparse juniper and skunkbrush. The potential production of the native understory vegetation in normal
• years is approximately 600 to 800 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre.
1(%0-Mine Permit Exhibits (Ju1.03.02)FWAL.doc J_1
July 3, 2002