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United States Department of Agriculture <br />a NRCS <br />Natrnol Rosowros Conswv rlbn S*M" <br />Jim Boyd, Resource Co *otva1iaN!;t <br />P. o. Box 29 <br />Norwood, CO 81423 <br />pm.troydacomsdagov <br />9'10-3274245-OFFICE <br />9703274247-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 reclaimed irrigated pastures at the Western 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 IS inches to unweathered bedrock. <br />2) T"hc fields generally have a southern aspect, with a slope ranging from 3 to 30 <br />percent, which increases the plant evapotranspiration rates 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 arc limited in their production potential, they are not 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 ofthesc irrigated pastures by Wester 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 ton/acre 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 Mute, please contact me, <br />Stncercly, - <br />G?.>?iyfl <br />Jim Boyd, NRCS Resource Conservationist <br />the "moral ftnsawca eom:emlian Service worlo ?n paMership with Ure An 6m People <br />to eon W and suawn noKwel lcsuq c-- prnele lands. An Equal Oppcttonay Pfovk Mend Emplayer, <br />(Rovis?-tl OC T 07) 2.06.4(2)(e)-64