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3.0 Postmining Land Use <br />Land use and baseline vegetation studies (Sections 2.04.3 and 2.04.10) conducted during 1987 <br />and 1999, as well as results from interviews with local operators, show that the <br />pre -mine land use is agricultureal based in part,, on irrigation. Many of the areas designated as <br />irrigated pasture in the pre -mine vegetation study were abandoned or only partially irrigated. <br />Vegetation types such as the swale /drainage type are present as a result of irrigation in the <br />area and are used, where possible, in a similar fashion to irrigated pasture. <br />also showed that Pastweland Inigated I lay and Pastmeland Inigated Giass mie very simalar <br />composition in many cases and may be tised depending on the operator's <br />needs. After several years of production following renovation, the hay fields become dominated <br />by grasses and are slowly invaded by species such as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and <br />buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata). The Pastureland Irrigated Hay fields are used as <br />pasture during various periods in the year based on operator needs. In most cases <br />management is not at a high level. Other than farmsteads, facilities, and a small abandoned <br />orchard, the sagebrush types makes up the balance of the disturbance area. This type reflects <br />disturbance of the original sagebrush type and pinyon - juniper vegetation and the intensity of <br />use from associated agricultural activities. These sagebrush areas are not irrigated and are <br />located on mesa tops where it is impractical to get irrigation water via ditches and on steep <br />mesa sides. <br />The postmining land use will be similar to the pre- mining land use - primarily agriculture using <br />irrigation and dryland pasture. These two pasture types will be the highest percentage of any <br />postmining vegetation type. Certain lands, particularly many of those tracts to the north of BB <br />Road and west of 2700 Road, were originally classified to be restored as Reclaimed Irrigated <br />Pastureland, but this was not valid since the water was simply not available to provide proper <br />irrigation on the total area of these lands. Additionally, Westein Ftle WFC wishes to reclaim <br />most of it's land west of 2700 Road as dryland pasture. For these reasons, a portion of these <br />lands have been re- classified as dryland pasture for Permit Revision 06 of 2009 201 n PR -08 <br />does not change any of the post mine land use designations on any areas approved in PR -06. <br />Permit Revision 06 involvesd the reclassifying of areas throughout the New Horizon 2 mine <br />area west of 2700 Road. The acreages of post mining land uses have changed significantly. <br />The post mine land use areas were altered due to a reevaluation of water availability and the <br />August 2013 PR -08 2.05.4(2)(e) - 6 <br />