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Vegetation Information Exhibit J <br />The site has historically been used for growing grass hay and cattle grazing. The vegetation community <br />on the entire permit area is vegetated with a medium to dense vegetation and is primarily considered <br />irrigated pasture. There are some rangeland slopes on the south edge of the permit and there are 5.6 <br />acres of wetlands which will be disturbed. An additional 3.06 acres of wetlands within the permit area <br />will not be disturbed. The predominant grasses on site are timothy and intermediate wheatgrass. <br />Smooth brome and other grasses are present in smaller percentages. White clover is also present. <br />Historically, alfalfa has also been grown in the field. The estimated live perennial cover during <br />irrigation season is 50% to 75%. <br />Prior to leveling and irrigation, the field probably contained mainly basin wildrye, western wheatgrass, <br />streambank wheatgrass, bluegrasses, and big sagebrush. Smaller amounts of rubber rabbitbrush, <br />fourwing saltbush, and bottlebrush squirreltail are also commonly present in similar areas that have not <br />been disturbed. <br />The hillsides to the south of the permit are above the field consist of sparse pinyon, juniper, mountain <br />brush, sagebrush and some grasses. Soils on these slopes are thin compared to those in the meadow. <br />All vegetation communities can be seen on Map C-1A Pre-Mining Plan Map. WestWater Consultants <br />has done a jurisdictional wetlands delineation for the site. An Individual Permit will not be needed <br />since the 5.6 acres of wetlands that are to be excavated for this permit will be approved under the <br />Tulloch Rule of the USACOE, allowing excavation of wetlands. Map C-1A shows these delineated <br />wetlands. The reclamation plan calls for the creation of 19.45 acres of wetlands, which is far larger <br />than the area excavated. <br />See the letter from the USACOE on the following page. <br />White River City Pit, January 09 J-1