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Oak, Magpie and Newlin Creeks. Water quality information taken from these districts <br />show elevated levels of calcium-bicarbonate, magnesium and barium. Metals such as <br />cadmium, lead and zinc are slightly elevated due to inactive and abandoned metal <br />mines in the area. Severe channel erosion by the downcutting action of the stream's <br />headwaters into the pre-Cambrian metamorphic rocks of the Wet Mountains, lend to <br />increased levels of TSS in the streams. As these high-energy streams proceed <br />eastward, they encounter the softer more erodible rocks of the basin, which continue to <br />add to the TSS levels. <br />Additional information on the surface water for the permitted area can be found in <br />Section 2.04.7 of the permit application and in Section B, "Probable Hydrologic <br />Consequences" section of this findings document. <br />Climatology <br />The climate is directly influenced by the topography, with heavier rainfall and cooler <br />temperatures in the mountains and less rainfall and warmer temperatures in the basin. <br />Annual precipitation in the area is approximately 12.9 inches, with most of the <br />precipitation occurring during the spring and summer months. Average annual <br />temperature for the area is 54 degrees with extremes of -20 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. <br />Prevailing wind direction is from the west except during summer months when the wind <br />originates from the southeast. Refer to Section 2.04.8 of the permit for further <br />information. <br />Vegetation and Soils <br />Information on vegetation is found in Section 2.04.10 of the permit application. Maps <br />14, 15 and 16 show the vegetative and soil communities present in the mine permitted <br />area. In brief, the vegetative community consists of three types: riparian woodland, <br />grassland and ponderosa pine juniper woodland. Oakbrush, skunkbrush, mountain <br />mahogany and snowberry are the important shrubs. Grasses that naturally occur are <br />blue grama, western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread, squirrel tail, mutton grass and red <br />three-awn. <br />The soil types that are found at the Southfield Mine can be found on Map 14 and in <br />section 2.04.9 of the permit application. Sandy loams, rock outcrops and stony loams <br />are the predominant soil types at the mine site and loadout. The permittee has <br />performed all the required soil pit excavations, analysis and research. <br />Wildlife <br />Wildlife information can be found in Section 2.04.11 of the permit application. <br />The Division of Wildlife, in 1979 and 1980, under the initial permitting effort by <br />Dorchester, conducted a wildlife survey. No threatened or endangered species were <br />Page 8 of 36