2002-06-05_PERMIT FILE - M2002004 (3)

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Proposed Limestone Quarry Access Road and Overview Cultural Resources Inventory Geology The bedrock geology of the proposed project area is dominated by the Niobrara Formation, which consists of calcareous shale and limestone. Deposits of Carlisle Shales, Greenhorn Limestone, and Graneros Shale are located to the west of the project area, but within the larger lease area. An area along the St. Charles River contains Holocene- and Pleistocene-age Pinedale gravels and alluviums and Pleistocene-age Bull Lake and Pre-Bull Lake gravels and alluviums (Tweeto 1979). Soils Soils in the proposed project area are mainly composed of Manvel silt loam, on generally level areas of 1-5° slopes. This is a deep, well-drained soil that formed mainly on alluvial fans in silty colluvial and alluvial materials that weathered mainly from limestone. Soils of the Penrose- Minnequa complex occur in the area near small drainages in the northwestern portion of the project area. This soil is shallow, well drained, loamy soil formed in residuum from limestone. Haverson silt loam soil occurs on some of the low terraces overlooking the St. Charles River. This is a deep well-drained soil that formed on floodplains in loamy alluvium. The edges of the bluffs along the north side of the river are covered by Cascajo very gravelly sandy loam soil. This soil consists of deep and excessively drained soil that formed on terraces in gravelly sandy alluvium (USDA 1979). Climate The proposed project area climate is characterized as semiarid and typical of the southeastern plains. Average annual precipitation at Pueblo is 11.9 inches. January is the coldest month, with an average daily low of 14.7° F, July is the warmest, with an average daily high of 91.1 ° F, and the average annual daily high is 67.9° F and the low is 37.7° F. The growing.season occurs between April and October and averages 167 days (USDA 1979). Vegetation The proposed project area is characterized by two major native plant associations: short-grass grassland and juniper-pinyon woodland. Most of the project area is dominated by grassland (wheatgrass, cheat grass, grama, and Indian ricegrass). Small stands of juniper-pinyon woodland are located along some of the drainages, and riparian vegetation (cottonwoods and willows) borders the St. Charles River (Mead 1996). Wildlife A wide range of animal species is present in the general area. Mammals are represented by mule deer, pronghorn, coyote, fox, skink, white-tailed jack rabbit, cottontail, and several species of rodents. Buffalo would have been present in the region in early historic times. Larger bird species in the area include stellar jays and raptors, such as red-tailed hawks (Mead 1986). Ii S 3