2009-10-16_PERMIT FILE - M2009082 (16)

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areas for nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essential and should be included in plans for habitat development, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. This soil has fair to poor potential for urban development. It has moderate to high shrink swell, low strength, and moderately slow permeability. These features create problems in dwelling and road construction. Those areas that have loam or sandy loam in the lower part of the substratum are suitable for septic tank adsorption fields and foundations. Some areas of this soil are adjacent to streams and are subject to occasional flooding. The potential is fair for such recreational development as camp and picnic areas and playgrounds. Capability class I irrigated. Olney fine sandy loam, 0 to I percent slopes This is a deep, well drained soil on smooth plains at elevations of 4,600 to 5,200 feet. It formed in mixed outwash deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soil that have a dark surface layer and some small leveled areas. Typically the surface layer of this Olney soil is grayish brown fine sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown and very pale brown sandy clay loam about 15 inches thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is very pale brown, calcareous fine sandy loam. Permeability and available water capacity are moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low. This soil is used almost entirely for irrigated crops. It is suited to all crops commonly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grains, potatoes, and onions. An example of a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain, or beans. Few conservative practices are needed to maintain top yields. All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow irrigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and commercial fertilizer are needed to top yields. Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the principal hazard in establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cultivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed at the time of planting and during dry periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian peashrub. 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 essential and should be included in plans for habitat development, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area has resulted in urbanization of much of this Olney soil. This soil has good potential for urban and recreational development. The only limiting feature is the moderately rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a hazard of ground Parsons Mine DRMS 112 Reclamation Permit Application Page 16 of 110