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VEGETATION INFORMATION EXHIBIT J <br />Existing Plant Communities <br />As previously explained and as shown on Map C -1, the pre -mine communities consist of the <br />following areas within the permit area: <br />1) The vast majority of the permit area is sagebrush community that has been used for sheep and <br />cattle grazing in the past. There are a few small stock ponds located on the terrace to be mined <br />but these only collect runoff water. There has not been any irrigation on the terrace to the best of <br />our knowledge. There are numerous bare patches between the sagebrush plants. The average <br />herbaceous vegetation cover is approximately 5 -7 %. The canopy cover from the sagebrush is <br />approximately 15 %. Wyoming big sagebrush is the dominant shrub; a few other shrub species <br />including four -wing saltbush, rubber rabbitbrush, and broom snakeweed are very uncommon. <br />Prickly pear cactus is occasional. Perennial grasses include native species such as galleta grass, <br />blue grama, and Indian ricegrass, and introduced pasture grasses including crested wheatgrass <br />and various bluegrass species. Grasses are mostly sparse and mainly grow under the canopy of <br />sagebrush plants. Forbs are sparse and uncommon, mainly limited to ephemeral species that are <br />only evident in spring or early summer. A small portion of the central area has been used for a <br />shooting range in the past, and the vegetation here has been partly cleared. Big game hunting has <br />also taken place on the property for deer and elk. <br />2) The access road below the sagebrush terrace is in a sparse pinyon juniper woodland <br />community that has poor soil and considerable bare ground. Pinyon pines and junipers also <br />dominate the slopes of the ephemeral drainage on the terrace, with scattered shrubs and perennial <br />grasses. <br />3) The small isolated tract of land in the flat area before the entrance to the State Highway is a 1 <br />acre piece of land that has always had a home on it with various outbuildings. There are a few <br />trees that were planted many years ago which is typical of old homes in Montrose County. There <br />are no vegetative communities on this tract. It will be used for an office, shop and truck scale. <br />This tract will not be reclaimed as a vegetative community. The pictures below show the existing <br />site. <br />Uncompahgre Pit, February 2013 J -1 <br />