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Fi Water use for the processing plant is approximately three - t million gallons per day, of which 300,000 gallons is new water or has to be pumped from wells during the dry season. 5.4 Biological Resources 5.4. 1 Wetlands Approximately 15-20 small ephemeral pools have been observed during vegetation surveys. The total acreage of these features is estimated to be no more than 0. 05 acre. All of these pools lie to the east of the current pit area, and many are on the east margin of the proposed project area. A few of the pools appear ! to be topographically isolated, but most are hydrologically linked via rather indistinct ephemeral drainages. Pool dimen- sions are generally very small; few pools exceed a width of 5-10 feet. Vernal pool indicator plant species such as goldfields, folded downingia, and meadowfoam were identified in several of Fthe pools. A few of the pools may not be disturbed, owing to their location in the permit boundary buffer zone. In a survey of watercourses in the excavation area, little F4� evidence of defined banks or beds was found. These watercourses exhibit ephemeral flow characteristics, explaining the lack of vegetation indicative of saturated soil conditions. The vegeta- tion that is present in non-eroded sections of the drainage bottoms is typical of facultative or obligate upland vegetation. Excavation plans call for the avoidance of all portions of the significant drainages except the upper reaches due to the absence of aggregate resource. There are three manmade impoundments in the project area. Two of these, stock ponds, lie outside of the excavation area. The third impoundment, an incised basin used, until recently, for the processing of chicken waste, will probably be removed 'during phase II of mining operations. Due to its landscape setting historical use, and paucity of hydrophytic vegetation, this im- poundment has a relatively low habitat value. The pools and drainages have been evaluated for potential U.S. Corps of Engineers (COE) jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344) . The total acreage of these natural features is estimated to be much less than an acre. The pools, in particular, may be judged "waters of the UnitedlStates" subject to COE jurisdiction if they qualify as wetlands which influence interstate or foreign commerce. Even if the pools and -' drainages are deemed waters of the United States, it appears that they would qualify for nationwide permit status under the cate- gory of general permits issued by the COE Chief of Engineers. r F KRC Aggregate, Inc. F � - 4 - April 1, 1994,