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Portions of the Apache Canyon, Pete Canyon, and Ciruela Canyon drainages are found within <br />the mine permit area. These basins contain intermittent and ephemeral streams that flow <br />predominately in response to runoff from snowmelt during the spring and intense rainfall during <br />the summer. A portion of the flow in intermittent drainages is sustained by groundwater <br />discharges. Pete Canyon is tributary to the North Fork, while Apache and Ciruela Canyons are <br />tributary to the main stem of the Purgatoire River. <br />The region is characterized by a semi -arid climate. The prevailing wind is from the southwest <br />and average annual precipitation is 16.92 inches. The length of the growing season in the <br />area varies from 90 to 110 days. <br />Vegetative communities in the area of the mine can be separated into two physiognomic types: <br />the low grassland and riparian communities along the Purgatoire River valley bottom, and <br />forest communities dominating the slopes and upland areas along the river valley. <br />Communities on the north - facing slope and the river valley were inventoried and found to <br />contain four distinct vegetative communities at the New Elk Mine area: a Ponderosa pine - <br />Douglas fir -oak community, a Ponderosa pine -oak community, a grassland community, and a <br />riparian willow carr community. The Ponderosa pine - Douglas fir -oak community is found on <br />the north - facing slope above the mine facilities at elevations above 7,600 feet. The overstory <br />consists of mature Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir with interspersed pinon pine and Rocky <br />Mountain juniper. The dominant shrub species is Gambel's oak. Cover is relatively sparse (12 <br />percent) and productivity is low (62 lb/ac). The Ponderosa pine -oak community occurs on the <br />north facing slopes above 7,500 feet on the eastern two- thirds of the permit area. Pure <br />Ponderosa pine stands are interspersed with Gambel's oak, pion pine, and Rocky Mountain <br />juniper. Vegetative cover is low (4 percent), as is productivity (44 lb/ac). The grassland <br />community was inventoried at the adjacent Golden Eagle Mine on a plateau above the river at <br />7,200 feet elevation, since no undisturbed grassland communities could be found at the New <br />Elk Mine. Dominant grass species were blue grama and western wheatgrass, with many other <br />minor graminoids including a number of forbs. Sage and snakeweed were the dominant <br />shrubs. Vegetative cover can be characterized as moderate (18 percent), as is productivity <br />(560 lb/ac). The willow carr riparian community is located in the Purgatoire River drainage at <br />an elevation of 7,400 feet at the New Elk Mine. The dominant species was willow with a <br />diverse graminoid and forb understory. Vegetative cover is high (43 percent), as is productivity <br />(2,140 lb/ac). <br />Soils in the area of the mine range from very shallow on the steep side slopes to deep, well - <br />drained loams with a dark - colored surface layer found in the valley bottom along the Purgatoire <br />River. <br />The Jansen Loadout is located in an unincorporated area on the west side of Trinidad, <br />Colorado. Land use of the site has been industrial for at least two decades. The site is located <br />immediately north of and adjacent to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad grade <br />on a thin layer of Purgatoire River alluvial deposits capping bedrock sedimentary formations. <br />No intermittent, ephemeral, or perennial drainages cross the site. An intermittent arroyo <br />named Colorado Canyon arroyo borders the site on the eastern boundary. This arroyo flows <br />only during snowmelt episodes in the spring or from storm runoff after summer thunderstorms. <br />4 <br />