2009-07-06_REVISION - M1977036 (36)

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EXHIBIT J Vegetation Information General Buys and Associates, Inc. (B&A) was retained by Tetra Tech to assess vegetation habitats (including habitat for T&E species) and to evaluate potential impacts to these habitats. These assessments were conducted on the Lafarge Brown property, adjacent to the Greeley 35th Avenue Mine in Weld County north of Greeley, Colorado. A vegetation and habitat assessment survey was conducted by B&A biologists on February 5. B&A biologists surveyed the property on foot using a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx (accurate to < 10 meters). Photos and notes were taken of the vegetation habitats present on the Lafarge Brown property. Appendix J.1 includes photos of the Lafarge Brown property. Present Vegetation Types The Lafarge Brown property, which is approximately 12 acres in size, falls within Section 34 of Township 6 North, Range 66 West (Figure J-1). The property includes a weedy area with an active prairie dog colony. Figure J-2 shows the Lafarge Brown property and the sub-region of land use/vegetation. The northwestern portion of the property is bounded by a fence. The Cache La Poudre River corridor, which includes a bike path, is located just outside and northwest of this fence. Approximately 1,695 feet of the Cache La Poudre River borders the Lafarge Brown property. This portion of the river is surrounded by a riparian corridor with a middle-aged cottonwood canopy. Although the area outside and northwest of the fence described above would not be disturbed, due to its proximity to the Lafarge Brown property information about this area is included in this report. During the survey, various vegetation data were collected on the Lafarge Brown property. The property and surrounding areas have distinguishable land use or vegetation areas; therefore data were collected for each land use/vegetation sub-region. Figure J-2 shows the Lafarge Brown property and the sub-region of land use/vegetation. Table J-1 shows the vegetation data for each land use/vegetation sub-region on the Lafarge Brown property and in the surrounding area, and describes the general condition of each sub-region. Other species are scattered throughout the area, especially along the borders between cultivated fields. These species include weedy species such as Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), annual mustards (Brassica sp.), kochia (Kochia scoparia), and velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Greeley 35`h Avenue Mine (M-1977-036) DRMS 112 Reclamation Permit Amendment Application Page J1 of J5