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Post - operational revegetation plans correspond with existing and surrounding vegetative <br />communities. Dryland cropping of small grains, dryland pasture, improved pasture, and <br />native rangelands exist both on the permit area and in the general vicinity of the loadout. <br />Soils associated with the Dry Creek drainage tend to be alkaline clay loams and loams. <br />Plant species found in the area are adapted to saline and alkaline conditions. <br />Approximately 70 acres were revegetated with a temporary seed mix following construction <br />of the loadout and rail loop facilities (1978). Plant species present in the revegetated areas <br />include intermediate wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, slender <br />wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, timothy, alfalfa, and yellow sweet clover. <br />Adjacent and undisturbed lands tend to have a high incidence of shrubs. Heavy use by <br />livestock grazing has aided in the increase of shrub densities. Postmining vegetation <br />communities will be: dryland pasture, improved pasture, cropland and rangeland. Due to the <br />narrow configuration of the area designated as rangeland (approximately 200 -250 ft wide), <br />no woody plant density standard will be imposed on the rangeland area. The Division has <br />received confirmation from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in a letter dated March 10, <br />1993 that the absence of a woody plant component in the rangeland area would not be <br />detrimental to wildlife use and would increase the "edge" effect along adjacent shrublands. <br />Four seed mixes will be used in the Loadout area. Each mix has been formulated for <br />adaptation to a particular land use and location for which it will be planted. HGT proposes <br />to include an introduced legume, alfalfa, in the rangeland seed mix. The Division proposes <br />to approve the use of a less aggressive species of alfalfa, such as Medicago falcata, in small <br />quantities in the seed mix. <br />An additional seed mixture is approved for a portion of the TAHR: Seed mix No. 5. Seed <br />mix No. 5 is designated for reclaimed lowland /meadow areas within the TAHR corridor. <br />The mix has been designed for the wet saline or alkaline conditions and heavy textures soils <br />which are likely to be present within this area. In particular, the western end of the TAHR <br />corridor and many of the drainages were wet and saline /alkaline prior to construction of the <br />TAHR. Given the uncertainty of the future of the Tie - Across Haul Road and the unknown <br />cropping needs in 2030 when this road is designated to be reclaimed, the following <br />stipulation was added to the permit: <br />Stipulation No. 9: Prior to initiation of reclamation of the Tie - Across Haul Road, the <br />permittee must submit and receive approval of a technical revision to update the <br />revegetation plan for the cropland areas to comply with Rule 2.05.4(2)(e). This plan must <br />include a description of the measures proposed to be used to determine revegetation <br />success for the cropland area in accordance with Rule 4.15.7(2) and Rule 4.15.9. <br />Drill seeding will be the preferred method of planting. Broadcast or hydroseeding will be <br />employed where steep slopes or small areas limit accessibility of the seed drill. Mulching <br />will be achieved by use of a cover crop of winter wheat or barley. HGT has found that the <br />use of straw mulch introduces undesirable weedy species into the reclaimed area and will <br />thus not be required. 12.7 acres were reseeded at the facilities area in 2011. <br />Hayden Gulch 30 February 11, 2014 <br />