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?? same ofthe drainages, Localized groundwater occurrences are also associated with laterally <br />?.._. discontinuous, very fine- to fine,grained sandstones, siltstones, and coal beds, which typically have low <br />storytivity and are characterized by variable water yields. ro?rndwater to the shallow alluvial aquifers <br />occurs as infiltration of precipitation and runoff, and as seepage losses from streams, while recharge to <br />deeper bedrock aquifers occurs primarily in outcrop areas. groundwater movement is generally down- <br />dip to the north-northwest. The proposed exploration activities will avoid area drainage channels so <br />that the activities will not erect alluviallcolluvial aquifers. The propased exploration program will not <br />extend into the Trout Creek Sandstone, and consequently, it will not be affected. while the projected <br />hole depths are generally deeper than the "J" sandstone, this unit is discontinuous in the area and may <br />or may not be present. All exploration holes will penetrate the Twentymile Sandstone, which is a <br />bedrock aquifer of regional importance. <br />Soils: Soils within the project area are formed primarily from weathered fine»grained sandstone, <br />siltstone, and shale. The dominant soils are Argiustolls, Haplocryolls, and Palecryalls associations, and <br />are moderately-deep to deep, wellydrained, and have loarr? to f ne-sandy?loam surface textures. <br />?e etation: There are tvvv primary vegetation groups in the project area: areas danainated by natural <br />vegetation and agricultural lands. A third group is lands revegetated after previous mining activities. <br />Agricultural lands are primarily cultivated croplands and pa?sturelCanservation Reserve Program CRP} <br />lands. Natural vegetation types are primarily herhaceausllow shrub vegetation communities, Bonne <br />areas ofn?esic drainage and herbaceous wetland, and mixed mountain brush, with small inclusions of <br />aspen forest woodland. The revegetated mine lands are primarily herbaceous with same low brush, <br />Prevailing land uses include cropland, rangeland, pastureland, and wildlife habitat, with <br />croplandlrangelandlwildlife habYtatbeing the dominate land uses. <br />Cultivated croplands are lands fanned on a regular basis for annual crops primarily dryland wheat}. <br />PasturelCRP lands are areas retired from cultivation which have been seeded to herbaceous species to <br />improve forage quantity, duality or utility. Seeded pastureland is dominated by mixed wheat»grasses. <br />generally, rangeland areas are characterized by stands of mixed mountain brush ?dnminated by <br />sagebrushlsnowberry in the lower elevations and serviceberrylambel's yak in the higher areas} <br />interspersed by open meadows with native and pastureland grasses. Revegetated mine lands are <br />similar to seeded pastureland and are dominated by mixed wheat grasses. <br />loo federal ox state threatened ar endangered ?Tl?}plant specter occur ?n the project area <br />?http:llvvww,blrr?.govlceltlenl?3)?IV? Prorams?botany.htrnl; accessed 411???8), The only rare plant <br />species with federal status with potential to occur in the project area is Ute Ladies' Tresses orchid <br />?,Spirar???tes di?uvia?is}. The only suitable habitat far this species mapped in western Routt County is in <br />the vicinity of the pampa River along the floodplain, which is several miles north and west ofthe <br />pro jest area. Several plants regarded as rare by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program ?CNH.P; <br />http:llww.cnhp.colostate.edu; accessed 411 X105}have known occurrences in the little Snake <br />Resource Area, though mostly at lower elevations and further west afthe Sage Creek area. The only <br />CN?-IP rare plant species with Borne potential for occurrence in the Sage Creek area are l?arrington <br />beardtongue (Perrs??morr ha?rrn??or?it? and Autumn willow ??"??r'x s?rissrr?a}. Freviaus f eld <br />reconnaissance did not identify any occurrences of these species. <br />Access and Incations for the proposed exploration activities have been laid-out to utilize existing roads <br />andtwo-tracks and previously disturbed areas to the extent feasible, therefore, the propased exp?aration <br />activities should not significantly impact existing vegetation communities. Temporary impacts to <br />cropping and grazing activities are anticipated and will be addressed, to the extent feasible, by <br />coordinated scheduling and surface damage agreements with surface awnersllessees. <br />.Sine [;reek Prr?jcc? ? Z??9 N?)t <br />0?1i0l??U9 5