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t] <br />Ms. Sandra Brown <br />November 21, 2013 <br />Page 2 <br />each exploratory drilling program. All but 23 of the 396 drill holes, and 20 of the 218 reclaimed <br />drill sites, were fully released from bond liability through these efforts. CDRMS and Colowyo <br />environmental staff spent five days crisscrossing the area inside Colowyo's over 29,000 acre <br />permit boundary to individually verify the condition and reclamation status of each drill hole and <br />reclaimed drill site within the five NOI's evaluated through this action. Follow -up actions to <br />achieve full release on the remaining drill holes and reclaimed drill sites have been scheduled for <br />2014. <br />In a cooperative working agreement with the CDRMS and the Colorado Department of <br />Wildlife (CDOW), Colowyo implemented three one acre plots for Tall Shrub and Aspen trial <br />areas in 2011. The area was first regraded to the approved Post - Mining Topography, and three <br />acres were identified for the trial area which included deep and thin topsoil locations. The deep <br />topsoil area was constructed on two of the three acres which required a forty eight inch deep <br />topsoil replacement depth. These two acres were seeded with a tall shrub mix to minimize <br />erosion. The thin topsoil area had a four inch topsoil replacement depth and was seeded with a <br />tall shrub seed mix. In 2011, Colowyo then planted 1650 containerized shrubs over the entire <br />trial area which included Serviceberry, True Mountain Mahogany, Chokecherry, and Aspen. <br />The entire trial area was also enclosed with "elk proof' exclusionary fence to protect the trial <br />area from ungulate depredation. The trial was evaluated in the summer of 2012 and these first <br />year results indicated an average survival rate of 62 %. In the fall of 2012, Colowyo replaced a <br />combined total of 634 plants. Survival was evaluated during the summer of 2013 and was <br />determined to be at 71 %. Colowyo will continue to monitor this trial to gain insight into the <br />performance of these targeted shrub plantings on -site, and the potential value of further plantings <br />on future reclamation areas. <br />Colowyo has continued efforts implementing a variable topsoil replacement program and <br />identification of areas for specific seed mixes and post - mining land uses within each reclaimed <br />area. This topsoil replacement program was designed to mimic the natural depths of topsoil <br />found in a typical drainage, thus providing more suitable and specialized environments for <br />woody plant species reestablishment. Rather than a uniform depth of topsoil over an entire <br />reclaim location, as is the most common practice, Colowyo creates some sites with extremely <br />shallow topsoil (ridge tops and topographically flat locations) designed to reduce grass stand <br />establishment and their resulting competition with shrubs for water and soil nutrients. Colowyo <br />also creates additional sites (steep slopes and bottoms of drainages) with extremely deep topsoil <br />depths. These sites will ideally benefit woody species like aspen and chokecherry. This non- <br />uniform redistribution of topsoil encourages plant diversity, and ultimately produces <br />microclimates such as those found in nearby undisturbed areas. Colowyo strongly believes that <br />increased plant diversity will lead to the ultimate goal of creating specific post -mine land uses <br />that vary from livestock grazing to sage grouse brood rearing habitat. <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER <br />A Touchstone Energy' Cooperative <br />