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United States Department of Agricutture <br />o NRCS <br />Ndud Rmo&M rs conswv6don SWOOP <br />Jim Boyd, Resource CaramatIoNst <br />P. O. Box 20 <br />Norwood, CO 01423 <br />pm.boydQcc.ucd&Qm <br />>M-W-4246-OFFICE <br />970327.4217-FAX <br />July It, 2006 <br />Ross Gubka <br />Western Fuels Colorado <br />P.O. Box 628 <br />Nucla, CO 81424 <br />Rear 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 18 inches to unweathered bedrock. <br />2) Ile 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 ofthis site, supplemental irrigation is needed early in the <br />spring in order to satisfy crop water requimirients, conmronly 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 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 bay for these soil types. <br />The agronomic management of these irrigated pastures by Western Fuels Colorado has been <br />reviewed by me and is consistent with NRC5 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 Mine, please contact me. <br />Sincerely, <br />Jim Boyd, 1NkCSS..rResaurce Conservationist <br />Tht Nstuml Re"UM Camer aUon Swriw Waft N pat"nMp rtth"MW &M P"06 <br />to cwmaro Md antdn "twel Mare" on P*014 W*. M egtud oppenvay Proddw ud emo"W. <br />(Revised OCT 07) 2.05.4(2)(e)-64