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Population is sparse in the region, with the vast majority of residents living along the <br />Purgatoire River and Colorado Highway 12. Ranching is the main focus for many of the <br />residents, although recently an increase in summer residents has occurred due to <br />development and sale of ranchettes in the area. Big game hunting in the region, <br />particularly trophy elk hunting, is also an important land use and source of income to many <br />of the local ranchers and outfitters. <br />Permit Area <br />The Lorencito Canyon mine is situated on 3142 acres of private land southeast of the town <br />of Weston, Colorado. The 7.5 minute series topographic map of the Little Pine Canyon <br />Quadrangle depicts the majority of the permit area. Elevations within the permit area range <br />from 6600 feet above mean sea level in the northeast part of the permit area to 7350 feet <br />in portions of the southern permit area. Steep slopes and rugged canyons generally <br />describe the topography of the permit area. With the exception of relatively, narrow, flat <br />canyon floors of Lorencito and Cow Canyons, most of the permit area is dissected by V- <br />shaped side drainages to the main canyons. These drainages are rimmed by steep, rocky <br />outcrops, and watersheds are divided by narrow, sharp ridges. Four main canyons are <br />situated within the permit boundary. Cow Canyon bounds the permit area on the west. <br />Lorencito Canyon and Little Jeff Canyon are located in the eastern portion of the permit <br />area. Jeff Canyon runs west to east through the center of the permit area and Puertecito <br />Canyon bounds the permit area on the south. Surface mining activities will generally be <br />focused in Lorencito Canyon and on the north ridge of Jeff Canyon. <br />Land use of the permit area is dominated by rangeland/wildlife habitat. Ninety-nine (99) <br />percent, or 3117 acres, of the permit area is, by Coal Regulation definition, <br />rangeland/wildlife habitat. Cropland and irrigated cropland occupy 25 acres, mainly along <br />the Purgatoire River alluvial valley floor. <br />In addition to the two main drainages within the permit area, Lorencito and Cow creeks, <br />numerous other drainages exist within the permit and adjacent area. Chimney, Jeff, <br />Puertecito, Little Pine, Bonita, Alamosa, and Little Alamosa creeks all drain areas within the <br />permit and adjacent area. Only Lorencito creek demonstrated perennial flows during the <br />baseline collection period. Minimum flows at all other sites were recorded as zero at least <br />once during the baseline period. <br />Large flows occur down ephemeral drainages in response to intense precipitation events, <br />typically during the months of July, August, and September. A flow of 240 cubic feet per <br />second was recorded at the mouth of Little Pine Canyon. Snowmelt contributes only a <br />small percentage of total runoff, as infiltration and sublimation likely account for most of <br />available snowmelt waters. <br />Soils in the permit area are thin, and in places, non-existent. The exception is the valley <br />bottoms, where soils are moderately well developed. Clay loam, with a low infiltration rate, <br />describes the majority of soils in the area. <br />7