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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 pre -mine land <br />use is agricultural based, in part, on irrigation. Many of the areas designated as irrigated pasture <br />in the pre -mine vegetation study were abandoned or only partially irrigated. Vegetation types <br />such as the swale/drainage type are present as a result of irrigation in the area and are used, where <br />possible, in a similar fashion to irrigated pasture. After several years of production following <br />renovation, the hay fields become dominated by grasses and are slowly invaded by species such <br />as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata). The <br />Pastureland Irrigated Hay fields are used as pasture during various periods in the year based on <br />operator needs. In most cases management is not at a high level. Other than farmsteads, <br />facilities, and a small abandoned orchard, the sagebrush types makes up the balance of the <br />disturbance area. This type reflects disturbance of the original sagebrush type and pinyon juniper <br />vegetation and the intensity of use from associated agricultural activities. These sagebrush areas <br />are not irrigated and are located on mesa tops where it is impractical to get irrigation water via <br />ditches and on steep 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, WFC wishes to reclaim most of its land <br />west of 2700 Road as dryland pasture. For these reasons, a portion of these lands have been re- <br />classified as dryland pasture for Permit Revision 06. PR -08 does not change any of the post mine <br />land use designations on any areas approved in PR -06. <br />Permit Revision 06 involved the reclassifying of areas throughout the New Horizon 2 mine area <br />west of 2700 Road. The acreages of post mining land uses have changed significantly. The post <br />mine land use areas were altered due to a reevaluation of water availability and the desire of <br />WFC to reclaim land it owns to dryland pasture. The post mine land use areas now shown in the <br />permit reflect what can be successfully and permanently established on all of the New <br />January 2015 TR -66 2.05.4(2)(e) - 5 <br />