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INTRODUCTION <br />As part of baseline activities for the proposed Peabody Sage Creek Mine, ESCO Associates Inc. was contracted by the <br />4w age Creek Coal Company to conduct a wetland delineation in conformance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <br />, USACE) requirements along an approximately 3 mile stretch of Little Grassy Creek that lies within the proposed permit <br />area of the Peabody Sage Creek Mine, a proposed underground mining operation. <br />STUDY AREA <br />The Study Area is a 752 acre area that includes a stretch of Little Grassy Creek and is located approximately 9 miles <br />southeast of Hayden, Colorado in Routt County (Mount Harris and Milner USGS Quads). The project area includes <br />portions of Sections 2, 3, 11 and 12 T5N, ROW (Sixth Principal Meridian) and portions of Sections 27, 34, and 35 T6N, <br />R87W (see Map 1). Elevation of the Study Area ranges from 7,100 feet towards the south end to 6,550 feet at the north <br />end. <br />As can be seen on Map 1 and Map 2, Little Grassy Creek drains from the south to north. In its upper reaches it is <br />comprised of two tributary drainages. The west branch passes through native terrain and vegetation, while the east branch <br />passes through reclaimed lands. After passing north through natural and previously reclaimed areas of the mine permit, <br />Little Grassy Creek joins Grassy Creek in the northern portion of the mine permit area. Grassy Creek is in turn tributary <br />to the Yampa River. <br />• <br />Wetlands in the study area can be classified as Palustrine, Lacustrine and Riverine (Cowardin et al. 1979, Map 4). <br />Wetland plant communities were delineated in the field on August 27, 28, 29 and September 8, 9 and 10, 2009. Additional <br />areas were delineated, flagged and surveyed in the field on October 27, 2009 following a field review by Mr. Nathan <br />Green, US Army Corp of Engineers, Regulatory Project Manager, Colorado West Regulatory Branch. The relationship of <br />the Study Area to the overall Sage Creek Mine permit area is shown on Map 1. <br />METHODS <br />General <br />Wetlands generally include those areas that meet Manual technical criteria and are actually, probably or potentially <br />supported by Waters of the U.S. The term "Waters of the US" is defined by Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) <br />Part 328 Section 3 as follows: <br />• <br />