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3.0 REVEGETATION SUCCESS CRITERIA <br />Revegetation success at the Mesita Hill Mine has no standard defined in the mine permit. <br />Therefore, in this and region, it is reasonable to consider revegetation to be successful when <br />native perennial vegetation within reclaimed portions represents about 5% ground cover; and all <br />native vegetation, both perennial and annual, is stable. Stability is determined by the presence <br />of plants setting seed and the presence of seedlings. <br />Reclaimed areas tend to be variable in their plant cover and density, with some portions well <br />above the standard and others more barren. A reclaimed site, and areas within the site, must <br />be evaluated as a whole with the understanding that some portions with lower plant cover, <br />whether due to rock outcrops, poor soil, steep slopes, or other conditions, will be offset by por- <br />tions with higher plant cover. <br />4.0 CURRENT VEGETATIVE COVER <br />Vegetative cover across the reclaimed portions of the mine site has continued to increase with a <br />shift in dominant vegetation cover since reseeding. This shift in species is presumably due to <br />grazing and browsing pressure from the free -range cattle and wildlife including pronghorn, rab- <br />bits, and rodents. New seedlings were observed in all reclaimed portions giving evidence of <br />self- regeneration by the native vegetation. <br />4.1 SURVEY METHODS <br />The monitoring survey method used consisted of recording average cover and diversity in rela- <br />tively similar areas. Vegetative cover was determined by ocular observation of the entire area <br />and estimating an overall average. Although vegetative cover was locally patchy, some plant <br />presences were observed in all areas unless otherwise noted. Plant diversity was determined <br />by traversing each area and recording all species observed. <br />4.2 SURVEY RESULTS <br />Erosion and Slope Stability <br />Almost five years after major earthwork efforts, the grading at the Mesita Hill Mine blended well <br />with the surrounding landscape and no erosion has occurred. The grading of the scoria sub- <br />strate and replaced topsoil has remained stable, even with rainfall events. <br />2 <br />