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VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />EXHIBIT J <br />Introduction <br />The majority of the area is located south of the existing <br />gravel mine. The amended acreage consists of native vegetation <br />common to this area. The overall property appears to have had a <br />long history of agricultural use as a non - irrigated pasture that <br />may have been overgrazed. <br />Vegetation Information <br />The following vegetation types were observed and mapped on <br />the site. <br />Pasture - Most of the amended acreage south of the current <br />mine was used as pasture for grazing livestock. This has <br />not occurred for many years as evidenced by the amount of <br />ground cover that is largely weeds, indicating that it may <br />have been over utilized in the past. While there is grass <br />growing the weed crop dominates the area. <br />Disturbed Areas - Disturbed areas consist of the areas that <br />are stripped or being mined under the current DRMS Permit <br />(M- 1995 -030) and parts of an old mine area disturbed pre - <br />1976. Disturbed areas also include the sand and gravel <br />processing plant areas, aggregate stockpile areas, internal <br />haul roads. Weedy species occur along the edges of the <br />fields and along farm roads and temporary access roads that <br />have not historically controlled. <br />Riparian /Lowland Areas - Riparian lowland areas occur along <br />the drainage ditch that crosses the property. All of the <br />riparian area is located outside proposed mining areas. Due <br />largely to past livestock grazing practices, the understory <br />is relatively sparse and consists mainly of upland weeds and <br />scattered russia olive trees. The drainage carries water <br />year round and the vegetation within the ditch area is <br />primarily made up of wetland species. <br />No rare, threatened or endangered plant species are known to <br />occur in the permit area. <br />39 <br />