Common use of Soils Clause in Contracts

Soils. ‌ The Mescalero-Monahans Shinnery Dune System is an eolian sand dune system patchily distributed in Chaves, Eddy, Lea, and Roosevelt Counties in New Mexico, and Andrews, Gaines, Crane, Ector, Ward, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Counties in Texas (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2006; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2016; Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995). In the Covered Area, there are 40 unique soil map units, but the dominant soils in the Covered Area are ▇▇▇▇▇ undulating or hummocky upland soils with deep to very deep sand layers and clay or loamy subsoils (Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS] 2020a). Key soil properties for the dominant soils in the system include moderate to high permeability, well drained to excessively drained, negligible surface runoff and water erosion, and moderate to severe wind erosion hazard. Vegetation reduces the wind erosion hazard. Duneland areas contain active sand dunes and sand sheets are dynamic, constantly shifting in direction with the prevailing winds, and are easily eroded and reformed due to sand moved and trapped by wind and vegetation (Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001; NRCS 2020a). Active sand dunes are generally devoid of vegetation and when present are located on the outer edges or low areas that may temporarily be ponded (NRCS 2020a). Changes in vegetation in dunelands due to drought, fire, precipitation or removal may result in increases or decreases in acreage of dunes, or these dunes may shift in location across the landscape over time (Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2013). Areas with dense vegetation have more gradual gently rolling landforms and are more stable (Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001). In general, soils within the Covered Area demonstrate very moderate to high wind erosion potential due to sand particle size, absence of vegetation, low organic matter content, and high calcium carbonate content. Conversely, water erosion potential is very low due to the low relief landscape, high water table, and well to excessively drained soils. The dominant soils in the Covered Area that permit growth of vegetation have historically supported rangeland activities and secondarily irrigated agriculture. Dunelands dominated by active sand dunes and sand sheets are not suitable for cultivation, and though they may be used as rangeland, these soils support limited growth of forage for livestock (NRCS 1999, 2020a). These soils are used for recreation and energy development activities (NRCS 1999, 2020a).

Soils. ‌ The Mescalero-Monahans Shinnery Dune System is an eolian sand dune system patchily distributed in Chaves, Eddy, Lea, and Roosevelt Counties in New Mexico, and Andrews, Gaines, Crane, Ector, Ward, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Counties in Texas (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2006; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2016; Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995). In the Covered Area, there are 40 unique soil map units, but the dominant soils in the Covered Area are ▇▇▇▇▇ undulating or hummocky upland soils with deep to very deep sand layers and clay or loamy subsoils (Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS] 2020a). Key soil properties for the dominant soils in the system include moderate to high permeability, well drained to excessively drained, negligible surface runoff and water erosion, and moderate to severe wind erosion hazard. Vegetation reduces the wind erosion hazard. Duneland areas contain active sand dunes and sand sheets are dynamic, constantly shifting in direction with the prevailing winds, and are easily eroded and reformed due to sand moved and trapped by wind and vegetation (Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001; NRCS 2020a). Active sand dunes are generally devoid of vegetation and when present are located on the outer edges or low areas that may temporarily be ponded (NRCS 2020a). Changes in vegetation in dunelands due to drought, fire, precipitation or removal may result in increases or decreases in acreage of dunes, or these dunes may shift in location across the landscape over time (Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2013). Areas with dense vegetation have more gradual gently rolling landforms and are more stable (Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001). In general, soils within the Covered Area demonstrate very moderate to high wind erosion potential due to sand particle size, absence of vegetation, low organic matter content, and high calcium carbonate content. Conversely, water erosion potential is very low due to the low relief landscape, high water table, and well to excessively drained soils. The dominant soils in the Covered Area that permit growth of vegetation have historically supported rangeland activities and secondarily irrigated agriculture. Dunelands dominated by active sand dunes and sand sheets are not suitable for cultivation, and though they may be used as rangeland, these soils support limited growth of forage for livestock (NRCS 1999, 2020a). These soils are used for recreation and energy development activities (NRCS 1999, 2020a). The literature on the dune geomorphology and dynamics of the Monahans Sandhills is largely focused on the formation and dynamics of the dune with respect to geologic time and has very little discussion of the contemporary dynamics relative to anthropogenic disturbance (Hall and ▇▇▇▇▇ 2006; Muhs and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995, 2001); but see ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (1984). Thus the spatio-temporal extent of effects of anthropogenic disturbance and disruption of dune dynamics in active dunes and adjacent semi-stabilized shinnery oak dunes currently is not fully understood.