HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071617.tiff Attachment to Third Amended USR - 1002 Application
EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
The following are the soil types found on the lands within the Subject Property. These descriptions are
taken from the Soil Survey of Weld County, Southern Part, published by the U.S.D.A.
44—Olney loamy sand, Ito 3 percent bluestem, sand reedgrass, and switchgrass
slopes.This is a deep, well drained soil on decrease and blue grama, sand dropseed, and
smooth plains at elevations of 4,600 to 5,200 sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses
feet. It formed in mixed outwash deposits. invade the site as range condition becomes
Included in mapping are some small leveled poorer.
areas. Management of vegetation on this soil
Typically the surface layer is grayish should be based on taking half and leaving half
brown loamy sand about 9 inches thick. The of the total annual production. Seeding is
subsoil is yellowish brown and very pale brown desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand
sandy clay loam about 15 inches thick. The bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
substratum to a depth of 60 inches is very pale grama, blue grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and
brown, calcareous fine sandy loam. crested wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The
Permeability and available water grass selected should meet the seasonal
capacity are moderate. The effective rooting requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into
depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be drilled
slow, and the erosion hazard is low. into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in
In irrigated areas this soil is suited to the spring has proven most successful.
crops commonly grown in the area. Perennial Windbreaks and environmental plantings are
grasses and alfalfa or close grown crops should generally suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the
be grown at least 50 percent of the time. Contour principal hazard in establishing trees and shrubs,
ditches and corrugations can be used in can be controlled by cultivating only in the tree
irrigating crops and pasture. Furrows, contour row and by leaving a strip of vegetation between
furrows, and cross slope furrows are suitable for the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed
row crops. Sprinkler irrigation is also desirable. at the time of planting and during dry periods.
Keeping tillage to a minimum and utilizing crop Trees that are best suited and have good
residue help to control erosion. Maintaining survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
fertility is important. Crops respond to redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm,
applications of phosphorus and nitrogen. Russian-olive, and hackberry. The shrubs best
In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian
winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Most of the peashrub.
the acreage is planted to winter wheat. The Wildlife is an important secondary use of
predicted average yield is 20 bushels per acre. this soil. The cropland areas provide favorable
The soil is usually summer fallowed in alternate habitat for ring-necked pheasant and mourning
years to allow moisture accumulation. Generally dove. Many nongame species can be attracted
precipitation is too low for beneficial use of by establishing areas for nesting and escape
fertilizer. cover, For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover
Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, is essential and should be included in plans for
and minimum tillage are needed to control soil habitat development, especially in areas of
blowing and water erosion. Terracing also may intensive agriculture. Rangeland wildlife, for
be needed to control water erosion. example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
The potential native vegetation on this attracted by developing livestock watering
range site is dominated by sand bluestem, sand facilities, managing livestock grazing-and
reedgrass, and blue grama. Needleandthread, reseeding where needed.
switchgrass, sideoats grama, and western This soil has good potential for urban
wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential development. The only limiting feature is the
production ranges from 2,200 pounds per acre in moderately rapid permeability in the substratum,
favorable years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable which causes a hazard of ground water
years. As range condition deteriorates, the sand contamination from sewage lagoons. The loamy
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2007-1617
sand surface layer is a limitation for recreational be seeded using an interseeder, or the seed
development. Once established, the lawns, should be drilled into a firm, clean sorghum
shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability subclass stubble. Seeding early in spring has proven most
Ille irrigated, IVe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains successful. Brush management also can help in
range site. improving deteriorated range.
Windbreaks and environmental
69—Valent sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes. plantings are fairly well suited to this soil.
This is a deep, excessively drained soil on plains Blowing sand and the moderate available water
at elevations of 4,650 to 5,100 feet. It formed in capacity are the principal hazards in establishing
eolian deposits. Included in mapping are small trees and shrubs. The soil is so loose that trees
areas of soils that have lime within a depth of 40 should be planted in shallow furrows,
inches. maintaining vegetation between the rows.
Typically the surface layer is brown sand Supplemental irrigation is needed to insure
about 8 inches thick. The underlying material to survival. Trees that are best suited and have
a depth of 60 inches is brown sand. good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper,
Permeability is rapid. Available water eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine, and Siberian
capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth elm. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush
is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and sumac, lilac, and Siberian peashrub.
the erosion hazard is low. Wildlife is an important secondary use of
This soil is suited to limited cropping. this soil. The cropland areas provide favorable
Intensive cropping is hazardous because of habitat for ring-necked pheasant and mourning
erosion. The cropping system should be limited dove. Many nongame species can be attracted
to such close grown crops as alfalfa, wheat, and by establishing areas for nesting and escape
barley. The soil also is suited to irrigated pasture. cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover
A suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of is essential and should be included in plans for
alfalfa followed by 2 years of corn and small habitat development, especially in areas of
grain and alfalfa seeded with a nurse crop. intensive agriculture. Rangeland wildlife, for
Closely spaced contour ditches or example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
sprinkers can be used in irrigating close grown attracted by developing livestock watering
crops. Contour furrows or sprinklers should be facilities, managing livestock grazing, and
used for new crops. Applications of barnyard reseeding where needed.
manure and commercial fertilizer help to This soil has fair potential for urban
maintain good production. development. The primary limiting soil features
The potential vegetation is dominated by are the rapid permeability and the susceptibility
sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, to soil blowing. Septic tank absorption fields
sideoats grama, needleandthread, little function properly, but in places the sandy
bluestem, and blue grama. Potential production substratum does not properly filter the leachate.
ranges from 2,500 pounds per acre in favorable Sewage lagoons must be sealed. Once
years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As established, the lawns, shrubs, and trees grow
range condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, well. Capability subclass IVe irrigated, Vle
switchgrass, sand reedgrass, sideoats grama, nonirrigated; Deep Sand range site.
and little bluestem decrease, forage production
drops, and sand sage increases. Undesirable 70—Valent sand, 3 to 9 percent slopes.
weeds and annuals invade and "blowout" This is a deep, excessively drained soil on plains
conditions can occur as range condition at elevations of 4,650 to 5,100 feet. It formed in
becomes poorer. eolian deposits. Included in mapping are small
Management of vegetation on this soil areas of soils that have lime within a depth of 40
should be based on taking half and leaving half inches. Also included are small areas of soils
of the total annual production. Seeding is that have sandstone between 40 and 60 inches.
desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand Typically the surface layer of the Valent
bluestem, sand reedgrass, indiangrass, soil is brown sand about 6 inches thick. The
switchgrass, sideoats grama, little bluestem, and underlying material to a depth of 60 inches is
blue grama are suitable for seeding. Because brown sand.
this soil is susceptible to soil blowing, it should Permeability is rapid. Available water
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capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth
is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and
the erosion hazard is low.
The potential vegetation is dominated by
sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass,
sideoats grama, needleandthread, little
bluestem, and blue grama. Potential production
ranges from 2,500 pounds per acre in favorable
years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As
range condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem,
switchgrass, sand reedgrass, sideoats grama,
and little bluestem decrease, forage production
drops, and sand sage increases. Undesirable
weeds and annuals invade and "blowout"
conditions can occur as range condition
becomes poorer.
Management of vegetation on this soil
should be based on taking half and leaving half
of the total annual production. Seeding is
desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand
bluestem, sand reedgrass, indiangrass,
switchgrass, side-oats grama, little bluestem,
and blue grama are suitable for seeding.
Because this soil is susceptible to soil blowing, it
should be seeded using an interseeder or the
seed should be drilled into a firm, clean sorghum
stubble. Seeding early in spring has proven most
successful. Brush management can also help in
improving deteriorated range.
Windbreaks and environmental
plantings are generally not suited to this soil.
Onsite investigation is needed to determine if
plantings are feasible.
Wildlife is an important secondary use of
this soil. Rangeland wildlife, for example, the
pronghorn antelope, can be attracted by
developing livestock watering facilities,
managing livestock grazing, and reseeding
where needed.
This soil has fair potential for urban
development. The chief limiting soil features are
the rapid permeability and the susceptibility to
soil blowing. Septic tank absorption fields
function properly, but in places the sandy
substratum does not properly filter the leachate.
Sewage lagoons must be sealed. Once
established, lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well.
Capability subclass Vle irrigated, Vle
nonirrigated; Deep Sand range site.
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