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NOTICE OF INTENT TO EXPLORE <br />INVOLVING REMOVAL OF 250 TONS OR LESS OF COAL <br />.IEEP TRAIL COAL EXPLORATION PLAN AREA <br />PAGE 11 <br />The Oak Vegetation community is essentially ubiquitous across the project are <br />occurring on ridge slopes, along ephemeral drainages, and over level to moderately <br />rolling mountain meadows. Near pure stands of Gamble oak (Quercus gambelii) <br />dominate drier ridge slopes. Where the community occurs in larger meadow and <br />along drainages, it is more of a mixed shrub community composed of a wide variety <br />of shrub species. This is a reflection of more mesic site conditions and wetter soil <br />moisture regimes. The dominant shrub species is Gambel oak. Other shrubs which <br />can be co- or sub-dominant depending upon growing conditions inclue snowberry <br />(Symphoricarpos oreophilus or S. rotundifolis) and serviceberry (Amelanchier <br />alnifolia). Herbaceous species such as lupine (Lupinus argenteus), white-flowered <br />peavine (Lathyrus leucanthus), and various upland sedge (Carex) species are <br />common in the understory (Johnson,1997). Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is also <br />a common community component while small, sub-dominant aspen (Populus <br />tremuloides), stands may become established in wetter areas where this community <br />borders the aspen community. <br />Occurring across the project area over a variety of elevations and aspects is the <br />Aspen Vegetation Type. This type inhabits less steep slopes overall than the other <br />tree-dominated vegetation types on site, though its presence on somewhat steeper <br />slopes under the proper soil conditions is not uncommon. It intergrades with most of <br />the other vegetation types on site, excepting the Pinyon/Juniper, and <br />characteristically has a more open, highly productive understory. The dominant tree <br />species is aspen. Common understory species include Woods rose (Rosa woodsii), <br />mountain brome (Bromus marginatus), elk sedge (Carex geyeri), white-flowered <br />peavine, Fendler meadow-rue (Thalictrum fenler~~, and American vetch (Vicia <br />americans) (Johnston, 1997). Wetter expressions of this type, in depressions or <br />adjacent to seeps and springs, often form transition wetland vegetation communities. <br />The Pinyon/Juniper Vegetation Community occurs on steep west and southwest <br />facing slopes at elevations typically below 7,000 feet. Dominant species include <br />Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus <br />scopu/orum) in the tree stratum. Pinyon pine (Pinus edulus) is also present. <br />Dominant understory species include Gamble oak, mountain snowberry, Indian <br />ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), and annual grasses (Western Resource <br />Development Corporation, 1982). Rock outcrops are a major component of this unit. <br />The soils are typically shallow and droughty compared to the soils supporting the <br />other tree-dominated vegetation communities. <br />Steep to very steep canyon walls along Hubbard Creek and its tributaries support the <br />Spruce/Fir Vegetation Community. Elevations nominally range from 6,800 to 8,000+ <br />feet. This community tends to be comparatively dense and supported by soils <br />reflecting more mesic conditions. Dominant tree species include Englemann spruce <br />(Picea engelmanni~), Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), and subalpine fir (Abies <br />lasiocarp) at higher elevations. Dominant understory species include bearberry <br />(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and a variety of other shrubs and herbaceous species <br />