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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC15-482 Baseline Reportn BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle Valley Land Exchange - Cord // /era parcel Eagle County, Colorado Prepared For Eagle Valley Land Trust PO Box 3016 Edwards, Colorado 81632 (970) 748 -7654 Prepared By Rare Earth Science, LLC PO Box 1245 Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 March 31, 2015 C15-482 Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel TABLE OF CONTENTS ATTESTATION.............................................................................................. ............................... ii PREPARER CERTIFICATION STATEMENT ............................................... ............................... iii CONTACTS & BASIC INFORMATION SUMMARY ...................................... ............................... iv 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... ..............................1 1.1 Methods ....................................................................................... ..............................1 1.2 Property & Setting Description ..................................................... ..............................2 1.3 Historic & Current Land Use ........................................................ ..............................3 1.4 Conservation Context .................................................................. ..............................3 1.5 Directions to the Property ............................................................ ..............................3 1.6 Summary of the Property's Conservation Values ........................ ................:.............4 2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPERTY ......................... ..............................5 2.1 Existing Improvements & Other Manmade Features ................... ..............................5 2.2 Geology & Soils ........................................................................... ..............................6 2.3 Surface Hydrology ....................................................................... ..............................7 2.4 Vegetation .................................................................................... ..............................7 3 LAND USE & MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ........................................... ..............................8 3.1 Trails ........................................................................................... ............................... 8 3.2 Weeds & Weed Control ............................................................... ..............................8 3.3 Minerals ....................................................................................... ..............................9 4 SECTION INTENTIONALLY OMITTED .................................................. ..............................9 5 OPEN SPACE ......................................................................................... ..............................9 5.1 Scenic Characteristics ................................................................. ..............................9 5.2 Significant Public Benefit ............................................................. ..............................9 6 RELATIVELY NATURAL HABITAT ........................................................ .............................11 6.1 Habitat for Threatened, Endangered, or Special Concern Species .........................12 6.2 Big Game Habitat ........................................................................ .............................12 6.3 Habitat for Other Wildlife ............................................................. .............................14 7 REFERENCES ....................................................................................... .............................14 FIGURES (Following Main Text) 1. Regional & Local Locator Maps 2. Topographic Map 3. Aerial Photograph & Photopoint Locations 4. Improvements, Features & Vegetation Communities 5. Geologic Map 6. Soils Map 7. Range Maps for Mule Deer and Elk DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHS (Following Figures) March 31, 2015 i Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel ATTESTATION EAGLE VALLEY LAND EXCHANGE — CORDILLERA PARCEL EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO In compliance with Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code [ §1.170A- 14(g)(5)], and to the best of my knowledge, this Baseline Documentation Report, including text, maps, and photographs, is an accurate representation of the Cordillera Parcel conservation easement property at the time of the conveyance of the conservation easement. The conservation values include open space and relatively natural habitat. Eagle unty, GRANTOR Date Kathy C andler -Henry, Chair Board of County Commissioners 1211 /�- /alley Land Trust, GRANTEE Date us, Executive Director March 31, 2015 ii Rare Earth Science, LLC - Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel PREPARER CERTIFICATION STATEMENT EAGLE VALLEY LAND EXCHANGE — CORDILLERA PARCEL EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO I- I, the undersigned, prepared this Baseline Documentation Report in accordance with Treas. J Reg. 1. 170A- 14(g)(5)(i)(D). To the best of my knowledge, this Baseline Documentation Report, including text, maps, and photographs, is a true and correct representation of the Cordillera Parcel conservation easement property at the date of my signature below. r I certify that I am a qualified provider of conservation easement due diligence. As principal f biologist at Rare Earth Science, I have personally prepared baseline documentation reports for I more than 150 conservation easement projects in eight Colorado counties, and am familiar with the natural resources of the region. My recent relevant project experience includes rare plant F surveys in Delta and Montrose counties, co- authorship of Colorado Sagebrush: A Conservation Assessment and Strategy (prepared for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 2005), and a Migratory Bird Status Literature Review (prepared for the Uncompahgre Field Office of the U.S. F Bureau of Land Management in 2009). 1 earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological ITSciences from Stanford University in 1988 and have 25 years of experience in consulting practice. i D' PRReeder, Phicipal Biologist Ra re Earth Science, LLC March 31, 2015 Date March 31, 2015 iii Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel CONTACTS & BASIC INFORMATION SUMMARY CONSERVATION EASEMENT NAME Eagle Valley Land Exchange — Cordillera Parcel GRANTOR Eagle County 500 Broadway PO Box 850 Eagle, Colorado 81631 GRANTOR CONTACT Toby Sprunk, Director Eagle County Open Space Program (970) 328 -8698 GRANTEE i Eagle Valley Land Trust PO Box 3016 Edwards, Colorado 81632 (970) 748 -7654 www.evlt.org BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT PREPARER Dawn Reeder Rare Earth Science, LLC PO Box 1245 Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 dawn @rareearthscience.com ACREAGE Approximately 167.95 acres EAGLE COUNTY PARCEL NUMBER: 2105 - 072 -00 -016 ZONING The property is zone "RP" (Resource Preservation) by Eagle County PHYSICAL LOCATION: Parts of the west half of Section 7, Township 5 South, Range 82 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, in County of Eagle, State of Colorado LEGAL DESCRIPTION: See the Deed of Conservation Easement, Exhibit A, for the complete legal description of the property. BUILDING ENVELOPE No residential development will be permitted on the conservation easement. March 31, 2015 iv Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel INTRODUCTION In March 2013, Eagle County ( "grantor") has acquired approximately 167.95 acres of land ( "Cordillera Parcel ") formerly administered by U.S. Forest Service in Eagle County as part of the Eagle Valley Land Exchange. As a condition of the land exchange, the grantor is conveying a perpetual conservation easement on approximately the acquired land to Eagle Valley Land Trust ( "Land Trust" or "grantee "). Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) provide for the establishment of conservation easements to maintain land "in a natural, scenic, or open condition, or for wildlife habitat, or for agricultural [ ... ] or other use or condition consistent with the protection of open land, environmental quality or life- sustaining ecological diversity" [CRS §38- 30.5 -102]. The grantee is a non - profit corporation and a "qualified organization," as defined in §170(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, and a charitable organization as required under CRS § §38 -30.5- 104(2). Western Land Group is facilitating the Eagle Valley Land Exchange, and Eagle County Open Space is funding a portion of the acquisition. All the parties agree that the principal purpose of the conservation easement on the property will be to protect and preserve the property's conservation values, and in particular, the property's scenic open space and wildlife habitat characteristics. This report serves as baseline conditions documentation for the property. As such, this report is intended to provide evidence of the property's conservation values, and to provide the grantee with a description of the existing conditions on the property at the time of the conservation easement conveyances, so that changes to the land can be monitored over time, especially those changes that may affect its conservation values. This report is intended to benefit all involved parties and will be used by the grantee to assure that any future changes on the property are consistent with the terms of the Deed of Conservation Easement (CE Deed). However, this report is not intended to preclude the use of other evidence to establish the condition of the property at the time of the conservation easement conveyance. The accuracy of this report is acknowledged by the grantor and grantee at the time of the conservation easement conveyance. This report consists of narrative text, with figures and documentary photographs following the text. Figure 1 shows the regional setting of the property and its location in relationship to other conserved private property and public lands. Figure 2 shows the topography of the property and surrounding area. Figure 3 provides an aerial overview of the property and a key to documentary photograph locations. Figure 4 shows the locations of improvements, important features, and vegetation communities on the property, including the approximate locations of existing trails. Figures 5 and 6 present geology and soils information, and Figure 7 maps ranges of selected wildlife species. A list of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates for the locations of documentary photographs is included on Figure 3. 1.1 Methods Methods of baseline documentation included a field visit to the property on May 18, 2013, by Dawn Reeder (Biologist, Rare Earth Science), review of information provided by the grantee, and research of available publications and other relevant documents, as cited. March 31, 2015 1 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel The contents of this report satisfy the documentation requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code at §1.170A -14 and the conservation easement due diligence requirements of the grantee, and generally follow standards and practices recommended by the Land Trust Alliance (Hamilton 2008). It should be noted that no tax credit benefits will be realized by the grantor of the conservation easement as a result of the conservation easement conveyance. Mapping for this document was created using ESRI® geographic information systems (GIS) software, ArcGIS 10.1 TM and a recreational -grade handheld GPS unit. Base maps consist of the local U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5- minute topographic quadrangle and National - -- - -� — = Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial Mule deer on the north part photography digital mosaics available for public of the property, May 2013 download through the U.S. Department of 71 Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or from the ESRI online server. J The property boundary shown on the figures in this report was mapped using Eagle County GIS data. This boundary should not be considered a survey, but rather, a representational sketch. # �6 Data resources used to create regional mapping, geology and soils mapping, and wildlife range maps are cited on the figures themselves. The photopoint map was created by mapping GPS waypoints marked at documentary photograph locations. The improvements mapping was created by interpreting recent aerial photographs and by mapping GPS waypoints of certain point features and tracks of roads, trails, and fence lines on the property. Consequently, the improvements map must not be considered a survey of improvements, but rather a simple inventory sketch. Vegetation communities were mapped by interpreting recent aerial photographs and publicly available landcover datasets, combined with a walkabout survey of the property. It should be noted that vegetation mapping boundaries cannot accurately represent the intergrade between plant communities. It was not within the scope of this report to review boundary adjustments, miscellaneous easements, or rights -of -way, whether recorded or unrecorded, for accuracy or applicability to the conservation easement conveyance. 1.2 Property & Setting Description The Eagle Valley Land Exchange — Cordillera Parcel is a total of approximately 167.95 acres lying south of Interstate 70 between the community of Edwards and the Cordillera residential subdivision in Eagle County, Colorado (Figure 1). A complete legal description of the - conservation easement is provided in the Deed of Conservation Easement (CE Deed). See the Contacts and Basic Information Summary in the front matter of this report and the introductory paragraphs of Section 1 for further information identifying the tax identification number and physical location of the property. The property features sagebrush and mixed mountain shrublands, and aspen and conifer woodlands and forests, at an average elevation of approximately 8,000 feet above mean sea level (Figure 2) in the Lake Creek valley of the Eagle River watershed. The Eagle River watershed is situated in the Southern Rocky Mountains physiographic province in the foothills of March 31, 2015 2 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel the Sawatch Mountains in the greater Colorado River Basin. The area is characterized by steep river valleys and terraces flanked by high foothills and mountains. Typical of Colorado's western slope, winters are relatively cold and snowy and summers are relatively warm and dry. The property is undeveloped open space surrounded by private lands developed at various densities. Improvements on the property include unofficial recreational trails and signage, a buried irrigation pipe, and limited perimeter and interior fencing (these items are described in Section 2). No residential dwellings are present on the property, nor will they be permitted on the property by the CE Deed. Documentary photographs showing the property's current improvements and important features follow the figures after the text of this report. The locations of the photographs are keyed to Figure 3, and improvements are mapped on Figure 4. 1.3 Historic & Current Land Use Under previous management by the U.S. Forest Service, historic uses of the property have included livestock range, wildlife habitat, and passive recreational activities. Currently, unofficial recreational pedestrian trails exist on the property (Section 2.1). An irrigation ditch right -of -way crosses the south part of the property, and a small meadow in the south part of the property appears to have been historically irrigated (Section 2.1). 1.4 Conservation Context The property adjoins private lands in all directions (Figure 1), which are developed at varying densities. As such, the property's open space provides a development buffer or visual separator between the communities of Cordillera and Lake Creek valley / Edwards. The Lake Creek valley area already has several conservation easements held by the grantee, and is one of the grantee's focus areas for conservation. On a landscape scale, the position of the conservation easement will protect the scenic value and natural, open character of lands around the communities of Edwards in the Eagle River Valley, and help maintain wildlife habitat and movement corridors from the potential effects of incompatible uses or inappropriate development in the future. 1.5 Directions to the Property jJ The property can be accessed by permission from El Mirador Road (a private road) in the Cordillera community (a gated community), as follows: • From the intersection of Edwards Access Road and U.S. Highway 6 in Edwards, travel west approximately 2.6 miles on U.S. Highway 6 to the Squaw Creek Road intersection. • Turn left (south) on Squaw Creek Road and travel south for approximately 2 miles to the Cordillera Way intersection. • Turn right (east) on Cordillera Way and obtain access through the guard station. From the guard station, travel about 2 miles on Cordillera Way to the intersection of Grenada Hill Road. • Turn right (south) on Grenada Hill Road, travel about 0.3 mile, where Grenada Road becomes El Mirador Road. Continue on El Mirador Road another approximately 0.5 mile to the El Mirador trailhead area at the terminus of El Mirador Road. March 31, 2015 3 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel To reach Photopoints 38 and 39 (which are not on the property): • Travel east on U.S. Highway 6 from the Squaw Creek Road intersection for approximately 1.9 miles to the Lake Creek Road intersection. • Turn right (south) on Lake Creek Road and travel 0.24 mile to Photopoint 39, on Lake Creek Road. • Proceed approximately 1 mile farther on Lake Creek Road to the intersection of West Lake Creek Road. • Turn right (west) on West Lake Creek Road and drive about 0.3 mile to the intersection of Jackman Ranch Road. • Turn right (north) on Jackman Ranch Road and drive about 0.3 mile to the end of Jackman Ranch Road and Photopoint 38. 1.6 Summary of the Property's Conservation Values The purpose of the conservation easement conveyances on the property is to preserve, in perpetuity, the following conservation values: 1. Open space. The property possesses the characteristics of open space delineated at §1.170A -14(d) in that its preservation will provide scenic enjoyment to the general public, is pursuant to clearly delineated public policies, and will yield a significant public benefit. The property is in an undeveloped and natural condition, featuring a mosaic of natural vegetation communities across dramatic topography, in the context of the Lake Creek valley of the greater Eagle River Valley watershed. As such, the property adds to the scenic character, openness, and variety of the local rural landscape. The property's open space provides a development buffer or visual separator between the communities of Cordillera and Lake Creek valley / Edwards. The Lake Creek valley area already has several conservation easements held by the grantee, and is one of the grantee's focus areas for conservation. A large part of the property is visible from Interstate -70, from U.S. Highway 6, and from many roads and public recreational trails in and around the community of Edwards in the Eagle River Valley. Preservation of open space, including scenic lands, is supported by state and local governmental policies, and brings significant benefit to the public, because development of the property into residential parcels would likely lead to or would contribute to the degradation of the scenic character of the area. The Eagle County Comprehensive Plan supports the preservation of scenic open space using conservation easements. 2. Relatively natural habitat. The property supports native sagebrush and mixed montane shrublands, aspen stands, and conifer woodlands that provide forage, cover, breeding habitat, and migration corridors for a variety of wildlife species, including migratory songbirds, raptors, small mammals, and big game. The property provides summer and winter range for mule deer, summer range and a winter concentration area for elk, and overall range for mountain lion and black bear. These big game species contribute March 31, 2015 4 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Cordillera Parcel significantly to the biodiversity and the region and to the economy through hunting revenues. The Eagle County Comprehensive Plan states that the well -being of wildlife species of economic importance should be protected, and that development in areas critical to the continued well -being of Eagle County's wildlife populations should not be allowed. The property also qualifies as "significant" as defined by U.S. Treasury Regulations at §1.170A- 14(d), because it provides or potentially provides habitat for species considered rare, threatened, endangered or of special concern — namely Harrington penstemon (a rare endemic plant recognized by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and the U.S. Forest Service as vulnerable and sensitive), and bald eagle (a State of Colorado Species of Concern). The property features a documented population of Harrington penstemon and lies within bald eagle winter foraging range. 2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPERTY 2.1 Existing Improvements & Other Manmade Features The bulleted paragraphs of this section describe improvements and other manmade features existing on the property. The appearances of the features are shown in the documentary photographs (following the figures after the main text), whose locations are keyed to Figure 3. Figure 4 maps the locations of improvements and other important features. • Buildings. There are no buildings on the property. What appeared to be the remnants an old stone foundation (Photopoint 14) was observed in the northwest part of the property, alongside a pedestrian trail. • Roads. Other than an unmaintained old single -track road associated with an irrigation ditch alignment (Photopoints 28 and 31), there are no roads on the property. Trails. Pedestrian trails constructed and maintained by the Cordillera community, as well as unmaintained social trails, are present in the northwest part of the property. Their approximate locations are mapped on Figure 4. From a trailhead sign posted outside the west property boundary at the south terminus of El Mirador Road (Photopoint 2), a maintained trail leads past decorative post- and -rail fencing and splits into Upper and Lower El Mirador Trails (Photopoint 3, looking southeast). The Upper El Mirador Trail leads south from the trailhead and does not extend onto the property. The Lower El Mirador Trail extends onto the property beyond the split, heads north (Photopoint 4), and exits the property at two other locations along the west boundary. A few social spurs of the Lower El Mirador trail are "closed" with signage or brush piles (Photopoints 6, 12, and 15). The Cordillera Summer Trail Map identifies the El Mirador Trails as "Class I – Maintained Weekly." Recent maintenance has included cutting dense brush alongside the trail (Photopoint 13). Generally, the Cordillera- maintained trails are used by individuals with access to the Cordillera community (a gated community). A social trail (Photopoint 9) leading from the trailer park north of the property on U.S. Highway 6, enters the property from the north (Photopoint 10) and connects to the Cordillera- maintained Lower El Mirador Trail near the location of a crude trailside bench (Photopoint 8). This trail connection was blocked with cut brush at the time of the field visit (Photopoint 12). • Fences. Perimeter fencing on the property was limited to a barbed -wire livestock fence along part of the property's south boundary (Photopoints 18 and 32). East of the old March 31, 2015 5 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel 9 irrigation road, the perimeter fence departs from the property's south boundary and turns northeast into the property's interior, contouring above the steeper slopes of the southeast area of the property. Near or just inside the property's west boundary alongside El Mirador Road, a few small stretches of decorative post- and -rail fencing were present (Photopoint 16). • Utilities. No overhead utilities or evidence of buried utilities was observed on the property during the baseline field visit. • Signage and monuments. A few small trail signs (Photopoints 6 and 12) erected by the Cordillera community were observed along the trails in the northwest part of the property. • Irrigation infrastructure. Moses Ditch crosses the southeast part of the property in the approximate alignment shown on Figure 4. The approximate ditch alignment, which appeared to be abandoned at the time of the field visit (Photopoints 23, 29, and 30), is shown on Figure 4. A buried irrigation pipe with periodic riser valves crosses the east part of the property, presumably replacing the apparently abandoned Moses Ditch. The buried pipe runs in the abandoned ditch alignment where it enters the property from the south (Photopoint 32), then departs from the ditch alignment and continues north through a small meadow (Photopoint 25) where it exits the property's north boundary. The presence of irrigation risers in the property's small meadow implies that the meadow was historically irrigated. An irrigation structure (Photopoint 29), which appeared to be a cleanout / drop box for the buried irrigation pipe, was observed at the area where the buried pipe alignment departs from the abandoned ditch alignment. A pile of scrap pipe (Photopoint 24) was observed at the east edge of the small meadow. • Other. A primitive wikiup -type structure or child's "fort" made of aspen saplings was observed in an aspen stand in the south part of the property (Figure 4; Photopoint 26). 2.2 Geology & Soils The property lies in the rugged, high - elevation terrain of the Southern Rocky Mountains physiographic province, which is characterized by cliffs, canyons and gulches cut in gently - dipping to broadly - folded sedimentary rocks of Pennsylvanian to Cretaceous age. The topography and geology of this area was influenced by several major structural elements in western Colorado, including the Gore Range to the east - northeast, the White River Uplift and Flat Top Mountains to the west - northwest, and the Sawatch Range to the south. This area is located within the Eagle Basin, which is primarily a Pennsylvanian -aged depositional trough located in a structurally complex area east of the Piceance Basin. The Geologic Map of the Leadville I* x 2° Quadrangle, Northwestern Colorado (USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map 1 -999, 1978) was reviewed for an understanding of local surface and subsurface geologic conditions, and Figure 5 provides a generalized geology map of the property and its immediate surroundings. The property is mostly comprised of bedrock Middle Pennsylvanian Eagle Valley Evaporite (Map Unit Pee). Map Unit Pee consists of gypsum, anhydrite, and interbedded siltstone and minor dolomite, with thick halite salt at depth in some places, and a thickness of upwards of 7,000 feet in the vicinity. The lower elevations of !€" the property consist of gravels and alluviums associated with the Lake Creek drainage. March 31, 2015 6 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel The local soil survey identifies three mapped soil units on the property (Figure 6), which are derived from the geologic units described above. The soils generally consist of moderately deep and well- drained loams and sandy loams, with a minor amount of rock outcrop complexes. 2.3 Surface Hydrology The property drains roughly west to east, toward Lake Creek. No perennial or intermittent streams exist on the property, although the property features several steep east - trending drainage patterns (Figure 2). The drainage patterns receive ephemeral flow and have no distinct riparian character. Moses Ditch (an irrigation ditch) crosses the east part of the property (Photopoints 23, 29, and 30). The approximate ditch alignment, which appeared to be abandoned at the time of the field visit, is shown on Figure 4. A buried irrigation pipe with periodic riser valves crosses the east part of the property, presumably replacing the apparently abandoned Moses Ditch. The buried pipe runs in the abandoned ditch alignment where it enters the property from the south, then departs from the ditch alignment and continues north through a small meadow where it exits the property's north boundary. The presence of irrigation risers in the property's small meadow implies that the meadow was historically irrigated. 2.4 Vegetation The vegetation communities found on the property are listed and briefly described in paragraphs below (in decreasing order of prevalence), and mapped on Figure 4. The vegetation map was created by interpreting a recent aerial photograph, combined with a walkabout survey of the property. • Sagebrush and mixed mountain shrublands (approximately 105 acres total; visible from most photopoints). Across this community on the property, native big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) was dominant or co- dominant with a mix of other montane shrubs such as snowberry (Symphoricarpus rotundifolius), serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis), and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). Other shrubs and sub - shrubs observed included rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), fringed sage (Artemisia frigida), and dwarf rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus depressus). Native herbaceous plants included western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), needle-and- thread (Hesperostipa sp.), muttongrass (Poa fendleriana), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), globemallow (Sphaeralcea sp.), arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza saggitata), phlox (Phlox sp.), pussytoes (Antennaria sp.), death camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum), fleabane (Erigeron sp.), wild parsley (Lomatium sp.), yellow violet (Viola pubescens), milkvetches (Astragalus spp.), and lupine (Lupinus sp.). The shrubland community types Oz were generally in good condition across the property, with all age classes of shrubs present and a diversity of desirable herbaceous vegetation. The property features a documented occurrence (USFS 2012) of Harrington penstemon ( Penstemon harringtonii), a rare endemic wildflower (see Section 5.1). Many penstemon rosettes (not identified to the species level) were observed throughout the sagebrush community types during the field visit and are assumed to be Harrington penstemon. .J • Aspen stands (approximately 50 acres; Photopoints 11, 21, 24, 26, 27, 29, and 30). Several fairly contiguous aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands were present on the March 31, 2015 7 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel property. The stands appeared to be relatively healthy, with some scattered dead or dying trees. The trees were of relatively small stature. Understory shrubs included snowberry, serviceberry, and common juniper (Juniperus communis). Conspicuous herbaceous plants or sub - shrubs in this community included Oregon grape (Mahonia repens), meadowrue (Thalictrum sp.), northern bedstraw (Gallium sp.), and elk sedge (Carex geyerl). Aspen stands provide good hiding and thermal cover for big game and nesting habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds. Conifer forest or woodland (approximately 10 acres; Photopoints 7, 22, and 35). A small, distinctive stand of Douglas -fir (Pseudotsuga menziesb) on a north - facing slope on the south part of the property is one of the property's distinguishing characteristics when viewed from around the valley. The stand consisted of dense moderately -aged to mature trees in good condition with very little understory vegetation. Douglas -fir is also mixed in some of the property's aspen stands and found in small copses in the north part of the property near the west boundary. • Meadow (approximately 3 acres; Photopoints 24 and 25). The meadow community in the south part of the parcel appeared to be a formerly irrigated area. The meadow was mostly in smooth brome, a pasture grass cultivated widely in the region, with scattered native forbs similar to those found in the sagebrush understory. Sagebrush and rabbitbrush were scattered throughout and re- establishing in the meadow. 3 LAND USE & MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Under the conservation easement the property will be operated and managed according to a management plan mutually acceptable to the grantor and grantee. 3.1 Trails The property is currently managed as open space / wildlife habitat with unofficial, limited recreational trail access. Pedestrian access occurs from residents of the Cordillera development (a private, gated community) adjoining the property to the west, and from the north via a social trail across private property ( Photopoint 10). Trail management on the property has been performed by the Cordillera community, and has consisted of weed control, and physical maintenance, such as brush cutting and closure of duplicate trails using natural barriers such as deadwood / cut brush ( Photopoints 12, 13, and 15). 3.2 Weeds & Weed Control The only noxious weed (Co. Dept. of Agriculture 2011) observed on the property at the time of the baseline field visit was plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides). A few plumless thistle rosettes were present in the meadow in the south part of the property, and in the west central part of the property along a game trail. Noxious weeds did not appear to be a serious management issue on the property at the time of the field visit. Other weeds on the property were common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), common mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), and a few species of annual mustards. Dandelion was present on some trailsides. Common mullein was sparsely scattered near the meadow. Pasture grasses such as smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium) were present in the meadow and along the abandoned irrigation ditch alignment. Such non - native March 31, 2015 8 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel plant infestations are typical and widespread in disturbed soils in Eagle County and are not considered to be directly harmful to wildlife or pets. 3.3 Minerals No evidence of past or present mining activities was observed on the property at the time of the field visit. 4 SECTION INTENTIONALLY OMITTED 5 OPEN SPACE The property provides scenic views and open space for the benefit and enjoyment of the public (see Section 1.6 for a summary of the property's conservation values). The open space conservation value of the property is described below and depicted in the documentary photographs following the main text of this report. Documentary photographs were taken at the photopoints shown on Figure 3. 5.1 Scenic Characteristics The property possesses excellent scenic characteristics (see the attached photopages). The property's aesthetically - pleasing and harmonious array of shapes and textures created by its combination of dramatic topography and shrublands, forests, and woodlands provide scenic 1 enjoyment to the general public, and contribute to the openness and variety of the overall landscape in the region. A large portion of the property is visible from Interstate -70, from U.S. Highway 6, and from numerous other public roads around the Edwards and Lake Creek communities (Photopoints 38 and 39). The property is also visible from public hiking trails on the Homestead, L, Creamery Ranch, and Miller Ranch conservation easements, which lie across Lake Creek Valley from the property. 5.2 Significant Public Benefit Preservation of the property under a conservation easement will yield significant public benefit because its open space provides a) scenic enjoyment for the general public, and b) wildlife habitat at the site - specific level and habitat connectivity at the landscape level. Preservation of the property will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate its scenic values, within the context of the scenic Eagle River Valley, which is important for preserving March 31, 2015 9 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel regional resources with the potential to provide revenue and attract tourism to the area. A significant benefit to the public is provided by the conservation easement because of the strong likelihood that development of the property would lead to or would contribute to degradation of the relatively natural habitat and the scenic and rural character of the area. Open space (including relatively natural habitat supporting big game and sensitive species), and scenic views are important resources that benefit the public by bringing enjoyment and significant hunting and tourism revenues to the State of Colorado and Eagle County. The conservation easement on the property is supported by policy at the state and regional /local levels: State policy. Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) provide for the establishment of conservation easements to retain or maintain land "in a natural, scenic, or open condition, or for wildlife habitat, or for agricultural, horticultural, wetlands, recreational, forest or other use or condition consistent with the protection of open land, environmental quality or life sustaining ecological diversity [ ... ] or other use or condition consistent with the protection of open land ..." [CRS §38- 30.5 -102]. The Colorado Wildlife and Parks and Outdoor Recreation statutes [CRS §33 -1 -101 and §§ 33-10-101], provide, respectively, that "It is the policy of the State of Colorado that the wildlife and their environment are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its visitors" and that "It is the policy of the state of Colorado that the natural, scenic, scientific, and outdoor recreation areas of this state are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed T for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and visitors of this state." The Colorado Department of Transportation statutes [CRS §43- 1-401, et seq.], provide that the "preservation and enhancement of the natural and scenic beauty of this state" are of substantial state interest. The Western Governors' Association Policy Resolution 08 -21 supports "voluntary incentive -based methods for preserving open space, maintaining land and water for agricultural and timber production, wildlife and other values." • Regional & local policy. Regional & local policy. Resolution 2003 -097 (amended and restated by Resolution 2004 -015) defines open space as "an area of land that is primarily undeveloped, natural or pastoral in character, and which may possess values such as fish and wildlife habitat or migration routes; working farms and ranches; scenic landscapes and vistas; wetlands and floodplains or other riparian habitat; public access to rivers and streams or other lands open to the public; geographic or topographic formations," etc. within and throughout Eagle County (Section 2.D.1.). The conservation easement on the property satisfies this open space definition. The Resolution provides that open space lands may be used for dispersed motorized or non - motorized recreation consistent with conservation values and "construction of trails for the purposes of public access and low impact dispersed recreation" (Section 2.D.2.). The establishment of a conservation easement on the property is consistent with the following goals of the 2005 Eagle County Comprehensive Plan, which became effective on January 18, 2006: March 31, 2015 10 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel o Goal: The impacts of development in Eagle County are carefully monitored, and -- future development occurs in a manner that preserves a high quality of life, a diverse and sustainable economy, the area's scenic beauty, a healthy natural environment and a vibrant, well designed community (3.2). • Goal: Eagle County's infrastructure and community services support all present and future community needs and encourage efficient travel, healthy lifestyles, a stable economy and the preservation of environmental quality (3.5). o Goal: Preserve and /or enhance the quality of wildlife habitat, and the vitality of wildlife populations in Eagle County (3.7). • Goal: Development in Eagle County avoids or fully mitigates impacts to sensitive lands. Open space is preserved to the greatest degree possible, and scenic quality and cultural resources are protected (3.8). The establishment of a conservation easement on the property is consistent with policies and strategies set forth in the 2005 Eagle County Comprehensive Plan, including the following: • The integrity, quality and interconnected nature of critical wildlife habitat in Eagle County should be preserved (3.7.2.a). • The well -being of wildlife species of economic importance should be actively monitored and protected (3.7.2.b). • The well -being of wildlife species of less economic importance and those on the rare and endangered species list should be actively monitored and protected (3.7.2.c). • Development in areas critical to the continued well -being of Eagle County's wildlife populations should not be allowed (3.7.3.d). • Development and development patterns should preserve landscapes that include visual, historic, and archeological value (3.8.3.c). • A variety of approaches should be utilized to preserve land as open space (3.8.4.e). • Open space should be able to serve different needs in different applications (3.8.4). 6 RELATIVELY NATURAL HABITAT The property features relatively natural habitat conservation values (see Section 1.6 for a conservation values summary). The property's native woodlands, shrublands, aspen stands, and riparian corridor provide important relatively natural habitat and habitat linkages for wildlife in the area. Vegetation communities on the property are described in Section 2.4 of this report and mapped on Figure 4. The appearance of the relatively natural habitat is depicted in documentary photographs following the main text of this report. Documentary photographs were taken at the photopoints shown on Figure 3. The GPS coordinates of the photopoints are included on Figure 3. The ranges of selected wildlife species are mapped, relative to the property, on Figure 7. ;4 IMarch 31, 2015 11 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel 6.1 Habitat for Threatened, Endangered, or Special Concern Species Threatened, endangered, or special concern species known to occur or with the potential to occur on the property based on documented ranges and habitat requirements are described below. It is important to note that it was not within the scope of this report to conduct a comprehensive survey for threatened, endangered, or special concern species during the baseline field visit. Threatened, endangered, or special concern animal species described below are expected to occur based on documented nearby occurrences, documented occurrences on the property, CPW range mapping, and /or presence of suitable habitat on the property. Bald eagle. The bald eagle was listed as endangered in the conterminous U.S. in 1967. Loss of habitat, shooting for feathers, and widespread use of the pesticide DDT are all thought to have contributed to the decline of this species; only 417 pairs were surveyed in the conterminous U.S. in 1963, down from several hundred thousand before the arrival of Europeans on this continent. Since domestic use of DDT was banned in 1972, bald eagle populations have increased dramatically, nearly doubling every 8 years. Approximately 6,500 pairs of bald eagles were recorded in the conterminous U.S. in 2000 (Buehler 2000). In 2001, 45 resident pairs were recorded in Colorado, up from 11 pairs in 1990. In 2007, the federal government de- listed the bald eagle; however, the bald eagle is still recognized as a State Species of Concern in Colorado (CPW 2013a). Bald eagles are regular winter residents in the Eagle River Valley, where they prey on fish and rodents or find carrion in meadows and shrublands. The property lies within CPW- mapped bald eagle winter range and winter foraging range. Bald eagles were not observed on the property during the field visit. Harrington oenstemon ( Penstemon harringtonii). An occurrence of Harrington penstemon has been documented on the property by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS 2012). Harrington penstemon is a wildflower known from only 74 occurrences in 6 Colorado counties across an approximately 82 by 48 mile area (Panjabi & Anderson 2006). It is found primarily in sagebrush- dominated communities within its range at elevations between 6,400 and 9,400 feet above mean sea level. CNHP ranks Harrington penstemon as a G3 /S3 ( "globally vulnerable" /"state vulnerable ") rare plant (CNHP 2011). Underscoring the importance of a conservation easement on the property, threats to the persistence of Harrington penstemon include habitat destruction or modification resulting from residential development, oil and gas exploration and development, off road vehicle use, overgrazing, and exotic plant invasion (Panjabi & Anderson 2006). Like many wildflowers, the abundance of Harrington's penstemon can vary dramatically from year to year. 6.2 Big Game Habitat The property lies within the overall ranges of American elk, mule deer mountain lion, and black bear, all big game species that are of economic importance to Eagle County and the State of Colorado, and that contribute significantly to the biodiversity of the region. • American elk. The property lies within overall range of American elk (Armstrong et al. 2011). CPW maps the entirety of the property as elk summer range, winter range, and as an elk winter concentration (Figure 7). Elk find good forage in the property's native shrublands, security in its topographic patterns, and thermal cover in its woodlands and forests of aspen and fir, especially during winter. Elk sign (scat) was present throughout March 31, 2015 12 Rare Earth Science, LLC _ Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel that the property will continue to provide security and a movement corridor for lions in the region. 6.3 Habitat for Other Wildlife The property provides habitat or habitat linkages for small animals with large home ranges moving across the surrounding landscape, including many neotropical migratory songbirds whose populations are declining in all or parts of their ranges (Sauer et al. 2012). These include Brewer's sparrow, vesper sparrow, Virginia's warbler, and green - tailed towhee. Raptors such as golden eagle, red - tailed hawk, Coopers hawk, great- horned owl, and American kestrel are expected to be fairly common or occasional (year -round or seasonally) in the area and across the property as they hunt for abundant small prey. Small mammals such as coyote, red fox, bobcat, badger, striped skunk, raccoon, cottontail, jackrabbit, porcupine, pocket gopher, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, voles, bats, and shrews are j� known or expected to inhabit or visit the property and utilize their habitat types. Reptiles and �j amphibians anticipated to occur on the property are western terrestrial garter snake, bull snake, sagebrush lizard, and plateau striped whiptail. 7 REFERENCES Armstrong, D.M., J.P. Fitzgerald, and C.A. Meany. 2011. Mammals of Colorado. 2nd Ed. y Boulder, Colorado: Univ. Press of Co. 620 pp. Buehler, D. A. 2000. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America, No. -' 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. CDOW (Colorado Division of Wildlife). 2006. Colorado's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and Wildlife Conservation Plans. Denver: Colorado Division of Wildlife. CPW. 2013a. List of Threatened and Endangered List http: // wildlife .state.co.us/WiIdIifeSpecies/ _ S peciesOfCon cern/Th reatened End angered List/Pages/ListOfTh reatenedAnd Endangered Sp 1 ecies.aspx. Updated December 21, 2011. CPW. 2013b. 2012 Elk Harvest, Hunters and Recreation Days for All Manners of Take. At http:/ /wildlife. state .co.us /SiteCollectionDocuments / DOW/ Hunting /BigGame /Statistics /Elk/201 2EIkHarvestSurvey.pdf. Viewed March 12, 2013. _ CPW. 2013c. 2012 Deer Harvest, Hunters and Recreation Days for All Manners of Take. At http:/ /wildlife. state .co.us /SiteCollectionDocuments / DOW/ Hunting /BigGame /Statistics /Deer /2 012DeerHarvestSurvey.pdf. Viewed March 12, 2013. CNHP (Colorado Natural Heritage Program). 2011. State -wide list of tracked species and communities. Accessed at http: / /www.cnhp.colostate.edu/ Co. Dept. of Agriculture. 2011. Eagle County Noxious Weed List, accessed June 16 at http: / /www.colorado.gov /cs/ Satellite ?blobcol= uddata &blobheader= application %2Fpdf &blobk ey =id& blobtable= MungoBlobs &blobwhere= 1251703045130 &ssbinary=true. IMarch 31, 2015 14 Rare Earth Science, LLC Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel Il CWMA (Colorado Weed Management Association). 2004. Troublesome Weeds of the Rocky Mountain West. 8th Edition. Hamilton, J.E. 2008. Conservation Easement Drafting and Documentation. 1st Edition. Washington D.C.: Land Trust Alliance. 324 pp. Hammerson, G.A. 1999. Amphibians & Reptiles in Colorado. 2nd Ed. Boulder: Univ. Press of Colorado. 484 pp. Kingery, H.E. (Editor). 1998. Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas. Denver: Co. Bird Atlas Partnership & Co. Division of Wildlife. 636 pp. Panjabi, Susan Spackman and David G. Anderson. 2006. Penstemon harringonii Penland (Harrington's beardtongue): A Technical Conservation Assessment. Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project. June 30. Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2012. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2011. Version 07.03.2013 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Available at http:/ /www.mbr - pwrc.usgs.gov /bbs /. USFS (U.S. Forest Service). 2012. Environmental Assessment, Eagle Valley Land Exchange. Prepared by the Eagle /Holy Cross Ranger District, White River National Forest, Eagle County, Colorado. October. USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). 2011. National Water Information System: Web Interface. At hftp://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/peak/. Weber, William A. and Ronald C. Wittmann. 2001. Colorado Flora: Western Slope. Third Ed. Boulder: University of Colorado Press. Whitson, T.D. (Ed.) 2000. Weeds of the West. Ninth Ed. Newark: The Western Society of Weed Science, University of Wyoming, & Western U.S. Land Grant Universities Cooperative Extension Services. March 31, 2015 15 Rare Earth Science, LLC USGS 1:100,000 Topographic Map Mt Portion of Eagle County, Colorado, Mosaic Effective Scale 1:100,000 All Locations Approximate _ I apo" 7- Cordillera parcel Town of Avon conserved land t Conserved private land ® State Habitat Area IIIIIIIII State Land Board land IIIIIIIII State Land Board Public Access Program land White River National Forest land O BLM land * Edwards a I r 's _ r Denver `� ► " EDWARDS * • # +LET ! Grand Junction •Colorado t Springs Land ownership and conservation status from COMaP v9: Greek Colorado Ownership, Management & Protection, at'�, Y http: / /www.nrel.colostate.edu /projects /comap /index.html y ti .kr State of Colorado I I*RARE CI EARTH S REGIONAL &LOCAL Date: February 2013 SCIENCE REGIONAL MAPS FIGURE PO Box 1245 DRAWN BY: D. Reeder Paonia, Colorado 81428 CORDILLERA PARCEL ta7o> 52 dawn@rareearthscience.com BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT scien Eagle County, Colorado USGS 7.5- Minute Topographic Quad ESRI Hillshade Basemap Effective Scale 1:24,000 All Locations Approximate Ei 6 In 48 � T.t Park ? t. ;Y ) %d U �tY 7app V� / r 61� i � �I�E - -•y L r ; f oil . • t e .r• Al 15 Vc Date. February 2013 1 ' TOPOGRAPHIC 1 PO Box 1245 DRAWN BY7 13 PARCEL (970) 527-8445 Eagle • Colorado Li ai -•4 f i . ,. F. L, National Agricultural Imagery Program 2011 �s, f ; . `_' IM Cordillera parcel F Portion of Eagle County, Colorado, Mosaic Approximate Scale 1:7,000 0 Photopoint location All Locations Approximate ?u� ., .:` r•, 6s M•� 'r ,F xf s, _ Photopo1 (p P7)Cpordirk* InLiN t]j�{zogp4 � T i�.' • K1 R' 'r'a � Y._.h' �C Cn� A' _q� y : cl, �" � IR"• •! „Yr:a. �.. �.�rsr��" "1C t.... a° a S r !fRF Eason No hk�g ljP f , Easti ink • ' ;� e� " } ?` ! ' i z" 1 0_298 4 '2 35066 $269 9 b R: ' r m , 36078 88151 °__gW95J 388084 4 ��� `` 36121 S J43 " 438W5 2 i� 3 lgiY W51 27 "� +�a '- _ ' 8503 488604 4 `a,��3rJ58 •43�8DI�. ° / ` }', �,, • r 00S0 48 . S id 4S 7' 6 = r 9;!2 f' 3610 y a3F84 . 29 36098'438785$ ,, 70 �7Q a 4388905 '3P �t.3_60�0 3137887 11 3 66 38 $ _; J609d 4 78 a 2 °i 360488_ 881k 360926 d 4 a rl.` ° Iri , ;., ,, f,`' w 1 I • 9r 33 360979 43$7723 i x3� l� as' °�z b . t� ° • _ " ' k &, #,e� "° a a �1 x6o"f 360$44 4387907 T41-388035. 36 065 4388117 3603 48'7'{)3 37 3605P 4a88V95 " ;•i M "r36032F •r 4387711 6 985 $3E 567 3402�220y �4{38786yy3� 3'4 361987 4388553 r1j{ 'r. •# v- 3� r'i`` , ai'�-6 1 "..�`.`�' "V.7 g"'�+,�71 r i � y e &: ,P °. '�} '�'t `� "L..•�.. Ir CowF 1�' Note: Photopoint 39 lies about 0.75 mile east of the property on Lake Creek Road and is a a p. ti ,t3rli o- not shown on this map �y 1 - - 4 1 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH Date: September 2013 RE EAR111 SCIENCE & PHOTOPOINT LOCATIONS FIGURE PO Box 1245 DRAWN BY: D. Reeder Paonia, Colorado 81428 CORDILLERA PARCEL 3 da wnC�rareearthscien ce. com (970) 52 BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT scien Eagle County, Colorado Y t l .J T t .:J J Date: BING Aerial / Streetmap Hybrid Sourced from ESRI Online Server Approximate Scale 1:7,000 All Locations Approximate M Cordillera pafaei r " Cordillera hall stgn Cordillera tra €lhead Trallside beneh r� Sooia"l trail blo*ed off ■ Old rock foundabon (7) Scrap pipe pile r'I t _.r Cordillera "maintained trail" P. p - -- Socialtrall Fence . 4i Irngatiell ditch (appears abandoned) r r,.,, s• t a -- Birrfod irrigation pipe �:+ Vegetation Communities 'x Aspen forest or woodland r "'= • Conlferforest Qr woodland Maadow r • X04 Big sagebrush and mixed mountain shrublands �' jr r+ k ��.._I,# LLB' .. c " t J i t IMPROVEMENTS, FEATURES & VEGETATION COMMUNITIES FIGURE CORDILLERA PARCEL 4 BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle County, Colorado Lll�2 RARE EAR1h SCIENCE 013 PO Box 1245 seder Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 dawn grareearrhscience. com M Cordillera pafaei r " Cordillera hall stgn Cordillera tra €lhead Trallside beneh r� Sooia"l trail blo*ed off ■ Old rock foundabon (7) Scrap pipe pile r'I t _.r Cordillera "maintained trail" P. p - -- Socialtrall Fence . 4i Irngatiell ditch (appears abandoned) r r,.,, s• t a -- Birrfod irrigation pipe �:+ Vegetation Communities 'x Aspen forest or woodland r "'= • Conlferforest Qr woodland Maadow r • X04 Big sagebrush and mixed mountain shrublands �' jr r+ k ��.._I,# LLB' .. c " t J i t IMPROVEMENTS, FEATURES & VEGETATION COMMUNITIES FIGURE CORDILLERA PARCEL 4 BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle County, Colorado National Agricultural Imagery Program 2011 Portion of Eagle County, Colorado, Mosaic Approximate Scale 1:12,000 All Locations Approximate Data Source Green, G. N., 1992, The Digital Geologic Map of Colorado in ARCIINFO Format: U.S Geologic-al Survey Open -File Report 92 -007, 9 p. http'11pubs. usgs gov:101992/ofr -02 -0507 ® Cordillera parcel Generalized (500K Scale) Geology Pe - Eagle Valley Fm Pee - Eagle Valley Fm - evaporitic facies Qd - Glacial drift Qg - Gravels and alluviums ' 6"0 ,M w r � I 1 ,v I � W ,4 a l}' MMI 0.25 0.5 SCIENCE RARE EAR1Ii Date: September 2013 PO Box 1245 - DRAWN BY: D. Reeder Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 dawn0rareearthscience. com { z J GEOLOGIC MAP CORDILLERA PARCEL BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle County, Colorado Pee FIGURE 5 J LAgricultural Imagery Program 2011 f Eagle County, Colorado, Mosaic mate Scale 1:8,000 tions Approximate A' w3M�; rI Cordillera parcel N. Soils Mapping y" ' 4;0 0 111. Vandamore channery sandy loam, 25 to 65 percent slopes ltix�� F 20. Coulterg loam, 12 to 50 percent slopes 55. Gypsum land - Gypsiorthids complex, 12 to 65 percent slopes ' g if re. x Rf EARIii SCIENCE Date: September p PO Box 1245 DRAWN BY: D. Reeder Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 dawn grareearthscience. com � s Soils maPPl�#9 from U.S: Departnettt af'J +... Agricbllure, tVa(ural Resources Canservat an SetY,�ce,Sotl Sarvey Geographic ) '- ? (SSu GO) database for r Aspen- GYpsuth. Pars of Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin Counilse! Colorado el • �� (2004, dalasetcoS55), accessed at S http ' 11So1lDatsMi4jt,nres.jafia gout, t . EARIii SCIENCE Date: September p PO Box 1245 DRAWN BY: D. Reeder Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 dawn grareearthscience. com SOILS MAP CORDILLERA PARCEL BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle County, Colorado FIGURE 6 C 7 a el S Ai. .. 6 0 k r 'y. -a- .r1, L. Tr<, it � �1.� t •'v.Y�j r�.i SOILS MAP CORDILLERA PARCEL BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle County, Colorado FIGURE 6 N , r Mule Deer Cordillera parcel ® Severe winter range Critical winter range Highway crossing area Winter range Summer range (entire map area) } 'T - .t. Yr - ff r 0 0.5 t . IWiss foe 4.: American Elk Production area 1 Highway crossing f* Migration pattern Winter concentration area �,1+. _ Winter range Y ` Severe winter range Sk w Summer range + �t b Q ' - '.� • " i= T �� *' � .. '� � Y _ y � 'ter "``` ~ .,3?� ..fit .�e'>a. I 6 ` r RARE EARTh SCIENCE Date: September 2013 PO Box 1245 DRAWN BY: D. Reeder Paonia, Colorado 81428 (970) 527 -8445 www.rareearthscience.com RANGE MAPS FOR MULE DEER AND ELK CORDILLERA PARCEL BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORT Eagle County, Colorado FIGURE Baseline Documentation Report Cordillera Parcel �I DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHS (Keyed to Figure 3) March 31, 2015 Rare Earth Science, LLC PK 2 +- 00 C a E � + Q O .; > 'm v C a3 �: C Ft O ,� + i U E t0 +' r° !C cr O J H" o aj W ca E Q Q o D O_ •- O Q O a) U L � 'O to c 3 •O1 O '^ Y 'O N ai L � E1 L O cn ate' f0 1,. 7 •U O C H al r L 4 O) a) 7 O •6 L L +r O a) �O L Ln O L cn c w o 0 a) M c E o O L C 'Ld f6 d_ r C �O Q 0 0 L a m m �+ M N ­1 000 z CO1 c v L ri W d d C 3 � O7 LO) c v r� m 0 ,a O O W 21 E 3 E O Q W m W V. ■ '' � o a T c N CD ca of Zc rna`)i C L y O Y = O ro e 3 c U c _ a) , C a) o a. O a) c o _- v o CL LA y. 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