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• The Thompson Creek Unit contains approximately 126 , 900 <br /> acres , of which 79 , 050 is National Forest , 32 , 850 is <br /> private land , 15 , 000 is National Resource (BLM) land . <br /> "Elevations range from 6 , 200 ' -11, 786 ' . Slopes are <br /> moderate to steep . The Crystal Creek drainage along <br /> the east side of the unit is classified as distinctive . <br /> Climate is typical of the Rocky Mountains . Precipita- <br /> tion ranges from 16" at lower elevations to 35" at the <br /> upper elevations with an average watershed of 20 ". <br /> "The Mancos shale formation, Mesa Verde group , Wasatch <br /> sandstone and Basalt flows make up the four predominant <br /> geologic formations within the planning unit . Due to <br /> the complexity of the geology, soils are quite variable <br /> in their texture, depth, productivity and erosive <br /> characteristics . " <br /> The planning unit includes 10 ELUs , of <br /> which #1 , #2, #3 , #4 , #8 and #9 are associated with Coal <br /> Basin (See Figure III-I-2) and Table III-I-2 . <br /> • Vegetation within the planning unit is <br /> indicated by Figure III-I-6 . Vegetation types include <br /> spruce-fir ; aspen; grass , and shrubs . Regional figures <br /> indicate Coal Basin is located in the Conifer-Aspen alpine <br /> , vegetative association, with Mollisols-Typic Cryoborolls , <br /> clayey-Typic Cryoboralfs , skeletal ; moderately steep to <br /> steep soils (Figure III-I-7) . <br /> ( 2) . Common species <br /> Within the Thompson Creek Planning Unit , <br /> which includes Coal Basin and the surrounding region, 188 <br /> species of birds , 50 species of mammals and several of <br /> amphibians and reptiles have been inventoried . Game species <br /> include elk, mule deer , black bear and wild turkeys . Avail- <br /> able winter range is the limiting factor for big game popula- <br /> tion of the area . <br /> -27- <br />