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SCC and Rocky Mountain Research Station will share responsibilities for this study in order to take • <br />advantage of our respective resources. SCC will assume responsibility for obtaining the saplings, <br />contracting equipment and manpower to transplant trees, constructing the drip irrigation system, and <br />fencing the study site. Rocky Mountain Research Station will supervise the transplanting, design the <br />drip irrigation system, and monitor irrigation system performance. SCC will furnish the 2,000 gallon <br />water tank to feed the system and keep it supplied with water. Rocky Mountain Research Station will <br />provide environmental monitoring instruments, collect, process, and analyze all measurements and <br />data, and produce a summary report of results to be submitted by SCC to the CDMG. The timing <br />and initiation of this study and plan is predicated on the cooperation and signed agreements between <br />SCC and the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS). <br />The proposed schedule for conducting the Aspen Study is as follows. <br />Select and survey study site <br />Summer 2003 <br />Place modified topsoil treatment <br />Summer, 2003 <br />Contract negotiations with SCC & RMRS <br />January-March 2004 <br />Select trees to be transplanted <br />Summer 2004 <br />Install irrigation system <br />Prior to Planting -Fall 2004 <br />Plant trees <br />Fall 2004 • <br />Construct Fence <br />Immediately after planting trees <br />Operate irrigation system <br />May — August 2005 <br />Collect tree survival and growth data <br />End of August, 2005 <br />Submit final report <br />March 1, 2006 <br />Appendix 22 -3, Aspen Study Plan, contains a detailed methodology for conducting the aspen <br />transplant study and suggests additional techniques for augmenting aspen establishment. <br />SCC will transplant 400 aspen sapling stock to the Aspen Test Plot. An additional 400 aspen sapling <br />stock will be transplanted to the Aspen Planting Area in Section 23 (see Exhibit 22 -1). The aspen <br />sapling stock will be harvested from select areas of the Yoast Mine. The saplings will be planted in <br />individually dug holes. At the time of planting each sapling will be pruned from the bottom so that <br />only the terminal leader and one whorl of lateral branches remain to help balance root /shoot ratios <br />and transpiration loads. <br />To provide for a future aspen sapling stock, SCC will develop several aspen farm areas within the • <br />Seneca II -W permit area. Exhibit 22 -3, Aspen Farm Areas, shows the locations where SCC will <br />develop future aspen sapling stock for transplanting in the Aspen Planting Areas. SCC will <br />MR _i6 <br />16 <br />