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Production Potential of Reclaimed Irrigated Pasture <br />United States Department of AprieuKwe <br />1 NRCS <br />NsYUSi R..aru. camova&M Savo. <br />An Boyd. Rwmm cwnwtMorid <br />P. O. Banc 20 <br />Norwood, CO 31423 <br />P-boydGmuatsaov <br />D70.327.4246.OMCE <br />970W- 4247-FAX <br />July 11, 2006 <br />Ross Gubka <br />Western Fuels Colorado <br />P.O. Box 628 <br />Nucla, CO 81424 <br />Dear Mr. Gubka <br />Upon assessment of the reclaimcd irrigated pastures at the Weston Fuels Coal Mine near Nucla, <br />Colorado, it is my professional judgment that the irrigated pastures east of Montrose County <br />2700 Road have limited production potential due to the following reasons: <br />1) The soils prior to mining and reclamation were shallow with low water holding <br />capacity, approximately 18 inches to unweathered bedrock. <br />2) The fields generally have a southern aspect, with a slope ranging from 3 to 30 <br />perc®rt, which increases the plant evapotranspiration razes and the droughtiness of the <br />site. <br />3) Due to the droughtiness of this site, supplemental irrigation is needed early in the <br />spring in order to satisfy crop water requirements, commonly before the irrigation <br />water is delivered by the Colorado Cooperative Ditch Company. <br />Because these soil types are limited in their production potential, they are of typically irrigated <br />in the Nucla area Instead, they are normally managed as rangeland or dryland pasture. As a <br />result, there are few production records for irrigated pasture and hay for these soil types. <br />The agronomic management ofthese irrigated pastures by Western Fuels Colorado has been <br />reviewed by me and is consistent with NRCS pasture and hayland management standards. <br />In the end, a realistic production goal for the above mentioned irrigated pastures is: <br />one tontacre of bailed hay in June (first cutting). <br />If you have any further questions concerning my assessment of the reclaimed irrigated pastures <br />on the Western Fuels Coal Mine, please contact me. <br />Sincerely, <br />Jim Boyd, NRCS Rcso1}rce Conservationist <br />rbs NshoW rrroum ca..rr.ian s nk. wok. In pwhwnft wet ewe Ae Wh= POWs <br />to asanm and sudsln nxWW wsorsas on p*Ms Inds. An E*W Oppabu ft PmvWw and En*bW. <br />