2015-11-04_REVISION - C1980007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3.1.3 Species Composition Cover sampling identified three lifeforms and forty-two plant species within the reclaimed areas. The lifeforms included six species of perennial grass, nineteen perennial forbs, one biennial forb, four annual forbs, and twelve perennial woody plants. Of the species encountered on the reclaimed areas, thirty-five were native and seven were introduced. Perennial species outnumbered annual species by thirty-seven to four, with one biennial. All species were cool season. The woody plants were all deciduous. The reclaimed areas had six species contributing greater than three percent relative cover this year. Those species included four perennial grasses and two perennial forbs. The species and their relative cover included Poa pratensis with a contribution 24.94 percent relative cover, Bromus marginatus (14.43%), Agropyron smithii (12.47%), Agropyron dasystachyum (11.00%), Achillea lanulosa (6.72%), and Thermopsis montanus (3.06%). Sixteen additional native forb species were encountered in the cover sampling accounting for 20.04 percent relative cover and 38.1 percent of the total number of plant species encountered. The twelve woody species accounted for 9.90 percent of the relative cover and 30.2 percent of the total number of species. Eighteen of the forb species and all twelve of the woody species encountered were volunteers (not in the seed mix), accounting for 71.4 percent of all species encountered. This indicates that the reclamation practices employed are favorable for re-establishment of native species from adjacent areas. 3.2 COMPARISON OF RECLAIMED AREAS WITH FINAL REVEGETATION SUCCESS CRITERIA Comparison of the reclaimed areas values for vegetation cover, total herbaceous production, and species composition with the final revegetation success criteria indicates whether revegetation has been successful and compliant with requirements for Phase III bond release. CDRMS Rule 3.03.1(2) provides for release of bond, "upon the establishment of vegetation which supports the approved post -mining land use and which meets the approved success standard for cover pursuant to 4.15.8..." The tables below allow the comparison of the parameter values from this year's sampling at the reclamation areas with the standards to be achieved, as determined from the Historic Records Study Area. Total Vegetation Cover (2015) Final Total Vegetation Cover Success Criterion: 53.04 % total vegetation cover 2015 Reclaimed Xbar 69.10% S 9.78% Number of samples 1 20 Number of samples for sample adequacy I 4 Based on the results of the 2015 quantitative sampling, the reclaimed areas exceeded the final revegetation total cover vegetation success criterion of 53.04 percent, thereby meeting the final revegetation success criterion and supporting the post -mining land use. Mountain Coal Company, LLC West Elk Mine Page 8 2015 vegetation Report: Deep Creek, Long Draw, Long Draw Saddle, West Point Road Reclamation Areas