2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (106)

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RULE 2 PERMITS and include: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), water sedge (Carex aquatilis), bentgrass (Agrostis alba), cattail (Typha latifolia), Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), boxelder (Acer negundo), Nebraska sedge (Carex nebracensis), coyote willow (Salix exigua), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), and hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus lacustris). Soils in the slightly higher topographic positions (transitional uplands) exhibit matrix chromas ranging from 2 to 3 and were never saturated and never exhibited mottling. Underlying materials along stream courses were typically a much brighter chroma value due to their nature as alluvial deposits (sands and small gravels). As elevation subtly decreases to the transitional wetlands of lower topographic positions, soils were more moist and exhibited slightly darker matrix chromas and bright mottles ranging from few to very abundant. At the lowest levels within the best wetland areas, soils are saturated to the surface or exhibit ponding, exhibit distinct mottles and a tendency toward gley colors at deeper profile depths. Typically wetland transition zones are comparatively narrow where obvious topographic differences occur. However, on occasion transition zones are quite broad forming a continuum where topographic changes are quite subtle as exemplified within the larger wetland units, especially Wetland # 4 (lower E. Fork of Jubb Creek) that is in transition to upland. Soils in these transition zones have dark chroma colors but are not mottled or gleyed on the upland side within the upper 12 inches of the profile, which may reflect the somewhat excessively drained gravelly, loamy sand, or sandy loam nature of the subsurface soil textures often observed. Water tables associated with these upland transitional zones were observed to be seasonal and below 12 -18 inches. On the wetland side, soils matrix chromas are slightly darker, mottles are present and often abundant, and the water table reaches the surface or near surface on a seasonal basis. In total, 47.9 acres of wetland and 5.5 acres of stock tanks were delineated within the vegetation study area. As previously indicated, the vast majority of these identified wetlands are not targeted for disturbance. The one (and largest) component of development that is known, and is largely fixed (i.e. cannot be moved to avoid wetlands) is the footprint of the eventual pit. Within this area only 0.27 acres of wetlands and 1.37 acres of stock tanks were found and delineated. These total to 1.81 acres or 3 percent of the delineated wetlands from within study area boundaries. As indicated previously, wetlands within the vegetation study area are expressed in several differing circumstances ranging from relatively large wet meadow complexes occupying over six acres to small meadow pockets immediately below seeps (measured in a few square feet); and from luxuriant streamside herbaceous (and occasionally woody) communities to waterless barren channels. Given the very large wetland complex of the Morgan Creek drainage to the west of the study area, it would appear that the significant downcutting of watercourses throughout the lower elevations of the study area has had an impact (reduction) on historic wetlands in this area. Streamside wetlands form the bulk of the wetland acreage across the study area. Discounting the 19.83 acres due to the six larger wetlands, streamside wetlands account for a total of 28.04 acres. Of this value, 3.38 acres is due to narrow linear streamside wetlands typically found higher in the study area watershed. Larger, more "expanded" streamside wetlands typically found lower in the study area occupy a total of 24.66 acres. Because of the 21 or more miles of stream through the study area, the program of "checkpoints" was utilized to systematically document the wetlands along the various reaches. As previously indicated, the upper portions of each drainage where streamside wetlands were typically narrow, "unrecorded" checkpoints were utilized whereby pertinent information was indicated directly on field maps to facilitate eventual interpretation on the high altitude CIR imagery. Such notes included existence of flow, the width's of wetland, composition of the bed, dominant vegetation, etc. The area where "unrecorded" checkpoints were utilized comprised less than 7 percent of the eventual acreage documented from the study area. Collom — Rule 2, Page 74 Revision Date: 1/23/09 Revision No.: PR -03