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Exhibit 5 -Bowie Resources Proposed Gob Pile <br />Baseline Vegetation Survey <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />1.1 General <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2006 to evaluate the plant <br />communities within the disturbance boundaries of the newly proposed Gob pile located <br />immediately to the west of Bowie Resource's access road. Original baseline surveys indicated <br />two plant community types (Juniper Woodland and Mountain Shrub) within this new vegetation <br />study area. The boundaries of these two communities were observed to be modestly incorrect <br />and as such needed adjustment based on ground verification by Cedar Creek in 2006. One minor <br />type (Wetland) was also observed within the defined vegetation study area. Studies were <br />designed in accordance with Rule 2.04.10 (also taking into account Rules 4.15.7, 4.15.8, and <br />4.15.11) of the Colorado Revised Rules and Regulations (9/14/05). Field sampling for the directly <br />measurable variables of ground cover and production, as well as the indirect determination of <br />• species diversity, was systematically conducted for the two dominant communities. In addition, <br />cover and production was sampled from the previously established °Old" Juniper Woodland, <br />Mountain Shrub and newly established "New" Juniper Woodland reference areas for comparison <br />purposes. Because the exiting permit has no requirement for woody plant density, this variable <br />was only sampled in the Old and New Juniper Reference Areas for comparison purposes. <br />Sampling was conducted from May 22 to May 24, 2006 by a team of six biologists and <br />biological technicians under the direct supervision of Cedar Creek's Senior Range Ecologist Mr. <br />Steven R. Viert and Plant Ecologist Mr. Erik M. Mohr. Sampling occurred somewhat early in the <br />field season owing to the elevated number of annual taxa expected from the study area. <br />Sampling for the directly measurable variables of ground cover, current annual herbaceous <br />production and in two circumstances, woody plant density, as well as an indirect determination of <br />species composition (diversity), was systematically conducted within the two major communities <br />occupying the proposed disturbance area. These variables were also sampled within one new <br />reference area and two previously established reference areas. These five sampling units were: <br />Mixed Shrubland Baseline, Mixed Shrubland Reference Area, Juniper Woodland Baseline, Old <br />Juniper Woodland Reference Area and New Juniper Woodland Reference. Ground cover was <br />determined with 20 samples in each area while production was determined with either 50 or 60 <br />samples. Woody plant density was determined with 50 samples in both the new and old Juniper <br />~~~~ cC~~~ Ass®c~~s, INC. 1 Exhibit 5 -Vegetation Resources <br />