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RECLAMATION PLAN <br />EXHIBIT F (CONT.) <br />Using this mixture will provide approximately 71. seeds per <br />square foot. It is a native mixture that should restore the site <br />to its existing use. The winter wheat acts as a cover crop for <br />the grasses. If the seed is broadcast, the amount will be <br />increased doubled and spread on a rough surface. The seeded <br />areas will then be dragged or raked thoroughly to set the seed. <br />We expect to see some natural invasion of sagebrush and cactus <br />from adjoining areas so we will not seed these species to pre- <br />serve the grasslands as long as possible. <br />Experience shows that on other operations the seeded area <br />will have a heavy cover of weeds after the first year. The <br />inclusion of winter wheat will reduce this probability. It will <br />tend to shade the seedbed, retain snow in the winter and act as a <br />wind break for the newly emerging grasses. The second year there <br />are fewer weeds as the grasses start to take hold. By the third <br />year the weeds are mostly gone and the grass has established <br />itself so it will grow in future years. <br />WEED CONTROL <br />The revegetated areas will be monitored closely each spring <br />for the first two years to determine if noxious weeds are invad- <br />ing the area. Walsenburg Sand and Gravel CO. has implemented a <br />weed monitoring and control plan for this mine and have included <br />a copy in the Appendix for your review. Weed control will be <br />initiated if the problem becomes serious or if an excessive weed <br />cover is still present at the end of the second year. In no way <br />should this be taken to mean that we will try to eradicate all <br />the weeds from the site. Some weeds are beneficial to the game <br />species in the area, they provide important protection from the <br />elements during winter and nesting sites during the spring. <br />Total eradication of weeds from the site is not necessarily <br />desirable, so we will be using controls on the noxious weeds and <br />letting the rest grow in select areas. It may be necessary to <br />control weeds by mowing after the first year, the feasibility of <br />chemical weed control methods will be studied should other forms <br />not work. Control of noxious weeds is important to the state so <br />USDA Extension Service recommendations will be followed to <br />control them. <br />16 <br />