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VEGETATION INFORMATION <br /> sand and fine gravel. Elsewhere, the clay and silt component is high to very high and the colloidal <br /> components of this fine soil undoubtedly retains a high quantity of plant available nitrogen which <br /> maintains the robust weed growth. <br /> Revegetation of these soils may be challenging in that the nitrogen levels of the soils will <br /> probably increase after stripping and redistributing. This will strongly favor maintenance of a robust <br /> weed population in the vegetation, even if the grasses become established. It is highly recommended <br /> that intense weed control be implemented during the first two or three years after the start of <br /> reclamation or the weeds might overwhelm the desired vegetation and the reclamation area regress to <br /> a weed domination. However, if the surface of the land is lowered such that groundwater is more <br /> accessible it is possible that the more desirable grass component of the revegetation program will <br /> quickly overwhelm the weeds. Nevertheless, weed control will still be needed. <br /> Herbaceous Revegetation Potentials <br /> These vegetation patterns indicate what can be expected from the revegetation of these soils. <br /> Weeds may be a problem, especially after soil is spread. Some annual weed growth is beneficial on <br /> sites like this provided it is not so thick and abundant it retards the growth of the desirable species. No <br /> matter what is done, new topsoiled land must be monitored closely as topsoil stockpiles often generate <br /> abundant and persistent weed growth. This is also especially true of soils derived from the Little <br /> Johnson Reservoir area where the dominant vegetation is annual weeds and that has been dominant <br /> for many, many years. It is apparent that these soils are rich in nitrogen which continues to allow <br /> annual weeds to be persistently dominant. <br /> So long as annual weed growths are managed, the potential for excellent revegetation is good <br /> if native soils are used effectively. Without soils though, growth will be weak with even few weeds, <br /> and erosion problems abundant. <br /> Trees <br /> Although not actually forming a vegetation unit, trees are present on the permit area. Most of <br /> the trees are Cottonwoods (mainly Populus deltoides), but there are a few Russian Olives (Elaeagnus <br /> angustifolia) scattered here and there. Exhibit C shows the locations of most of the larger trees. <br /> As would be expected of a sandy site, most of the woody vegetation is concentrated in areas <br /> where there is available water. This is mainly along the irrigation ditches or where irrigation ditches <br /> formerly ran. Trees do not occur where moisture is not currently available. The only exception to this <br /> is where moisture was readily available when the tree became established. Trees do readily invade the <br /> older portions of the bottom of the active mining pit in the North Area. In those locations, <br /> Daniels Sand Pit#2 Amendment (2008) Exhibit I Page 5 of 6 <br />