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alternative irrigation techniques and future crop selections. <br />6.51rriaated Cropland Success Criteria and Success Demonstration <br />All irrigated cropland (IC) areas will be measured against the IC reference area to determine <br />revegetation success. Irrigated cropland revegetation that is not Prime Farmland will have to <br />achieve 90% of the cover and production of the reference area (after applying 90% confidence <br />interval) to be considered successful. Prime Farmland areas of irrigated cropland will need to <br />meet or exceed 100% of the cover and production of the reference area (same confidence <br />interval) for revegetation to be considered successful. Revegetation success will be monitored <br />for in each of the required study years prior to bond release. <br />5.5.1 Irrigated Crosland Reference Area <br />The Irrigated Cropland reference area is located on the south side of the Morgan Property <br />within the mine permit area. It can be seen on Map 2.05.4(2)(e) -3. This area was originally set <br />aside and not disturbed by mining to provide a buffer between the home of the Morgan's (to the <br />south) and mine blasting activities. The soils in this area have been determined to be prime <br />farmland soils of the same type found within the disturbed Prime Farmland areas immediately <br />to the north. Map 2.04.9 -1 shows these soils. Additionally, this area was managed as part of <br />cropland fields that existed on the west end of the Morgan Property prior to mining. It received <br />the same irrigation, fertilization, harvesting, and grazing as the Irrigated Cropland areas that <br />have been disturbed by mining. The irrigation for this area was from the same water rights as <br />the rest of the Morgan Property. <br />The combination of matching management, soils, and water on both the reference area and the <br />disturbed areas of the Morgan Property make this reference area ideal for revegetation success <br />measurements. Also, the soils have not been disturbed on the reference area during mining. <br />This means that the reference area has a soil profile that matches the best pre -mine soils on <br />the Morgan property. The reference area soils are prime farmland Barx soils. Again, this makes <br />the reference area the best option for the comparison point with regards to IC revegetation <br />success. <br />The reference area has not been used as a cropland field since 2008, when water ceased to be <br />applied to the area north of it prior to topsoil stripping. This prevents a vegetation analysis from <br />being conducted at this time. According to the DRMS definitions, a reference area must be <br />August 2013 PR -08 2.05.4(2)(e) - 44 <br />