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The following plan/technique for tree and shrub reestablishment was suggested by Dr. David Buckner and is <br />directed toward the successful establishment of individual aspen trees in select reclamation locations for the <br />purpose of facilitating the eventual clonal spread of those aspen individuals and the return of that vegetation <br />type to the reclaimed landscapes. Like many aspects of the return of woody plants to reclaimed areas in <br />Routt and Moffat Counties, the reestablishment of aspen is a goal that, at best, will be achieved over the long <br />term. Like certain of the other prominent woody species in the pre - mining landscapes (especially Gambel's <br />oak) the heart of the presence of aspen in a pre - mining landscape is the immense bulk of the underground <br />parts of the individual clones. The progression from time zero on a geologically "renewed" landscape to <br />mature aspen clones has never been observed over its full course and so no one really knows what the <br />conditions of establishment and the rates of growth toward the eventual mature clone are. All SCC can do is <br />provide the setting in which we think the tree or shrub in question may eventually, given favorable climatic <br />conditions, lead to expanding clonal growth. In the short term, we need to give the "mother - plants" that we <br />seek to establish, a cost - efficient but effective boost and adequate protection from as many as possible of the <br />environmental stresses that we know exist in reclaimed areas. <br />Suitable re- establishment sites would be those that are concave (i.e. "low - lying' and can be expected to <br />accumulate moisture (as well as soil) in the pattern typical of nearly all terrestrial landscapes. It is proposed to <br />endow these select sites with "over- thickened" topsoil, as is so often the nature of natural locations of <br />vigorous aspen growth. Of course "low-lying" sites along drainages with extensive watershed above are <br />probably not good candidates because of the risk of soil loss. Places in drainage headwaters with gentle side <br />slopes have been selected. <br />It is believed that the best approach here would be to use '/4 to V/z inch caliper aspen and place the root ball <br />as it comes from the nursery at ground level. Members of the genus Populw have the capacity to root <br />adventitiously following burial. Through their evolution, this has not been a response to deep planting but <br />rather the arrival of deep deposits of soil, gravel or sand around them during flood events. Dr. Buckner has <br />used this technique with narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) with great success. <br />These would be watered well at the time of planting and three or four times during the first growing season. <br />Four square yards of landscape fabric would be placed around the base of each tree or in a strip pattern. <br />MR -77 24 Revised 10/13 <br />