In general, sites separated from the active floodplain frequently 

 disturbed the most vegetative habitat as a percentage of the total disturbed 

 area. For example, Table 28 identifies seven sites that were entirely (100%) 

 vegetated prior to gravel removal and all were separated from the active 

 floodplain. At all seven sites vegetative cover and associated organic 

 overburden were completely cleared prior to gravel removal. 



Long-Term Loss of Vegetative Habitats 



Long-term loss of terrestrial habitat occurred at those sites where: 

 (I) the gravel extraction method (either pit excavation or deep scraping) 

 removed gravel to depths that resulted in permanent flooding; or (2) the 

 specific site location and material site characteristics resulted in river 

 hydraulic changes which annually affected the site. 



Permanently Flooded Material Sites . Eight of the study sites were 

 excavated pits, either totally or in part (Figure 63). Pits varied from an 



Figure 63. West Fork Tolovana River showing permanently 

 flooded pit excavated adjacent to the active floodplain 

 with a downstream connection. 



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