2009-02-26_PERMIT FILE - M2009018 (10)

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WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART range condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, switchgrass, sand reedgrass, sideoats grama, and little bluestem decrease, forage production drops, and sand sage increases- Undesirable weeds and annuals invade and "blowout" conditions can occur as range condition becomes poorer. Management of vegetation on this soil should be based on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, indiangrass, switchgrass, sideoats grams, little bluestem, and blue grams. are suita- ble for seeding. Because this soil is susceptible to soil blowing, it should be seeded using an interseeder, or the seed should be drilled into a firm, clean sorghum stubble. Seeding early in spring has proven most successful. Brush management also can help in improving deteriorated range. Windbreaks and environmental plantings are fairly well suited to this soil. Blowing sand and the moderate availa- ble water capacity are the principal hazards in establishing trees and shrubs. The soil is so loose that trees should be planted in shallow furrows, maintaining vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation is needed to insure survival. Trees that are best suited and have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redeedar, ponderosa pine, and Siberian elm. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian peashr ub. Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen- tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop- ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range- land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be attracted by developing livestock watering facilities, managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed. This soil has fair potential for urban development. The primary limiting soil features are the rapid permeability and the susceptibility to soil blowing. Septic tank absorp- tion fields function properly, but in places the sandy sub- stratum does not properly filter the leachate. Sewage lagoons must, be . sealed. Once established, the lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability subclass IVe ir- rigated, V le nonirrigated; Deep Sand range site. 70-Valent sand, 3 to 9 percent slopes. This is a deep, excessively drained soil on plains at elevations of 4,650 to 5,100 feet. It formed in eolian deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that have lime within a depth of 40 inches. Also included are small areas of soils that have sandstone between 40 and 60 inches. Typically the surface layer of the Valent soil is brown sand about 6 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches is brown sand. Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low. 45 The potential . vegetation is dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats grama, needleandthread, little bluestem, and blue grama- Poten- tial production ranges from 2,500 pounds per acre in favorable years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, switchgrass, sand reedgrass, sideoats grama, and little bluestem decrease, forage production drops, and sand sage increases. Undesirable- weeds and annuals invade and "blowout" conditions can occur as range condition becomes poorer. Management of vegetation on this soil should be based on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, indiangrass, switchgrass, side-oats grama, little bluestem, and blue grama are suita- ble for seeding. Because this soil is susceptible to soil blowing, it should be seeded using an interseeder or the seed should be drilled into a firm, clean sorghum stubble. Seeding early in spring has proven most successful- Brush management can also help in improving deteriorated range. Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally not suited to this soil. Onsitc investigation is needed to determine if plantings are feasible. Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. Ran- geland wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be attracted by developing livestock watering facilities, managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed. This soil has fair potential for urban development. The chief limiting soil features are the rapid permeability and the susceptibility to soil blowing. Septic tank absorption fields function properly, but in places the sandy sub- straturn does not properly filter the leachate. Sewage lagoons must be sealed. "Once established, lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability subclass Vie irrigated, V le nonirrigated; Deep Sand range site. 71--Valent-Loup complex, 0 to 9 percent slopes. This level to moderately sloping map unit occupies hills, ridges, and depression or pothole-like areas in the sandhills at elevations of 4,670 to 4,700 feet. The Valent soil makes up about 60 percent of the unit, the Loup soil about 35 per- cent. About 5 percent is dune sand. The Valent soil occu- pies the hills and ridges and the Loup soil the depressions or potholes. The Valent soil is deep and excessively drained. It formed in eolian deposits. Typically the surface layer is brown sand about H inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches is brown sand. Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low. The Loup soil is deep and poorly drained. It formed in sandy alluvium. Typically the surface layer is very dark grayish brown, mottled loamy sand about 16 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches is light brownish gray, mottled loamy sand and sandy loam.