2011-07-11_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2010088

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Mike Boulay -16- July 8, 2011 "Description of Minor Predisturbance Area Vegetation Types ", rather than "Major Predisturbance Area Vegetation Types ". CAM Response: Page 12 has been revised to show approximate planned disturbance to the Irrigated Wetland vegetation type. Division Response: The planned cumulative disturbance to the Irrigated Wetland type is 0.95 acres, as stated on page 12 of Exhibit 5. Given the very limited disturbance of this community type, it should be addressed under the heading "Description of Minor Predisturbance Area Vegetation Types" on page 14, rather than "Major Predisturbance Area Vegetation Types." Please amend the text so the Irrigated Wetland type is listed in the "Description of Minor Predisturbance Area Vegetation Types." CAM - The DRMS appears to be confused about the terminology associated with the issue of major and minor plant communities. These terms are not found in the Regulations and appear to only in the DRMS Vegetation Guideline which states on page 3, that minor plant communities are those areas "whose aggregate area occupies less than 5% of the permit area or less than 10 acres, whichever is smaller." Since the terminology only applies to the acreage of plant communities within the permit area and has nothing to do with the disturbance area of individual plant communities, the treatment found in the permit narrative is correct and does not need to be changed. 34. Division Response: Response accepted. 35. Division Response: Response accepted. 36. Division Response: Response accepted. 37. There is a species with acronym "PENPAN" listed as a shrub in the shrub density tables for riparian and wetland communities, and as a noxious weed in the cover data for the same types. There is no species listed in the species list that matches the subject acronym. We also note that salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima), is noted in the text of Exhibit 5 as the only shrub other than greasewood that was encountered in the woody plant density sampling of the Reed Wash riparian community, but the species was not listed in the shrub density or cover tables for the riparian or wetland communities, nor was the species included in the species list. Presumably, "PENPAN" should be "TAMRAM ", and definitely, salt cedar should be listed in the species list. Please make corrections as appropriate. CAM Response: All references to PENPAN from the shrub density and cover tables mentioned above have been deleted and TAMRAM inserted in its place. Revised copies of tables 6,8 & 11 are attached.