2010-05-07_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A (4)

Home Browse Search

• Tufted cryptanth (Oreocarya caespitosa synonym Cryptantha caespitosa) is found in Idaho, northeast Utah, southwest Wyoming and northwest Colorado in Moffat County. This species occurs on sparsely vegetated shale knolls (probably of the Green River and Wasatch Formations) with pinyon - juniper or sagebrush and usually with other cushion plants at elevations ranging from 6,200 to 8,100 feet. Although in the elevation range of the Study Area, the substrate on which this species is found does not occur in the Study Area. In addition, the difference in the depositional environment (and geochemistry) of Green River and Uinta Formation materials versus Mesa Verde Group and Lewis Shale materials has been discussed above. Rollins cryptanth (Oreocarya rollinsii synonym Cryptantha rollinsii) is found in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado in Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties on white shale slopes of the Green River Formation in pinyon - juniper or cold desert shrubland communities at elevations between 5,300 and 5,800 ft. It often occurs in the same area as the C. duchesnensis and A. duchesnensis. Its elevation range is well below that of the Study Area. In addition, the difference in the depositional environment (and geochemistry) of Green River and Uinta Formation materials versus Mesa Verde Group and Lewis Shale materials has been discussed above. Gibbens' beardtongue (Penstemon gibbensh) is found in south - central Wyoming, northeast Utah • and northwest Colorado in Moffat County. It is found on sparsely vegetated shale or sandy -clay slopes of the Browns Park Formation (Miocene -age) at elevations ranging from 5,500 to 7,700 feet. The surrounding vegetation is often pinyon - juniper woodland, sagebrush or greasewood- saltbush. Although the elevation range of the Study Area encompasses the elevation range of this species, the Browns Park Formation does not occur in the vicinity of the Study Area. Graham beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) is found in eastern Utah and Colorado in Rio Blanco County on talus slopes and knolls of the Green River Formation oil shales in sparsely vegetated desert shrub and pinyon - juniper communities. It is found within a very specific elevation range of 5,800 to 6,000 feet and often in conjunction with Eriogonum ephedroides and Bolophyta ligulata. This is much lower than the elevation of the Study Area, and taken into consideration with the fact that the Green River Formation does not occur in the Study Area either, it is unlikely that this species would occur in the Study Area. Harrington beardtongue (Penstemon harringtonil) is a Colorado endemic that is found only in Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Pitkin, Routt and Summit Counties in open sagebrush or, less often, in pinyon - juniper habitats. Soils where this species is found are typically rocky loams and rocky clay loams derived from coarse alluvium with calcareous subsoils. This species is found at elevations • 31