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65 cubic feet of wood fiber per acre per year (Exhibit 6, Productivity • <br />Information). However, there are no current markets which would be <br />economical for a contract lumbering operation. The area is best suited for <br />fish and wildlife habitat because of the limited capabilities and <br />productivity of the land as rargeland. <br />Fish and wildlife habitat are considered those lands adjacent to <br />disturbed areas which are not leased for rangeland (Map 4, Premine Land <br />Use). This includes the Middle Fork of the Purgatoire River and adjacent <br />banks. Underground development waste has been deposited up to the edge of <br />the river which has basically eliminated the riparian habitat. The uplands <br />adjacent to disturbed areas have been mapped entirely as wildlife habitat <br />because the present capability of these lands is limited by steep slopes, <br />shallow soils and rock outcrops. Previous vegetation studies suggest the <br />carrying capacity would be 56 acre/AUM (Department of Range Science) <br />because of the current industrial land use, adjacent to wildlife habitats, <br />the capability of these areas for wildlife development will be largely , <br />dependent on revegetation success. <br />The post-operational land uses for the disturbed areas will be <br />wildlife habitat and rangeland. Reclamation for this land use is discussed <br />further in the Reclamation Section. <br />2.04.4 Cultural and Historic Resource Information <br />The Purgatoire River Valley has historically been a mining and <br />ranching community. The majority of the land which WFC plans to mine is <br />located within the Maxwell Land Grant, which was settled during the middle <br />and late 1800's. Little or no information currently exists on the cultural <br />and historic resources of the immediate area which the New Elk Mine will <br />affect during the term of the mine. Primarily all historic information <br />associated with the region centers around the town of Trinidad, Colorado, <br />approximately 30 miles east of the mine. Trinidad has historically served <br />as the hub of the area as far as economic and cultural activities are ' <br />2.04-4 <br />