2015-08-11_PERMIT FILE - C1992080 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1992080
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 8/11/2015
• Doc Name: Vegetation Report 2014 Abridged Permit
• Section_Exhibit Name: Appendix 5-14
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

3.1.3 Species Composition
Cover sampling identified four lifeforms and twenty-eight species within the proposed
reference area. The lifeforms included eight species of perennial grass, one species of annual
grass, six perennial forbs, one unidentified forb, two succulents, and ten perennial woody
plants. Of the species encountered on the reclaimed areas, 23 were native and four were
introduced (one uncharacterized). Perennial species outnumbered annual species by 26 to
one, with one forb undetermined. All species save one were cool season. The succulent
species were evergreen and the woody plants were a mix of evergreen and deciduous.
The proposed reference area had nine species contributing greater than three percent relative
cover this year. Those species included four perennial grasses, one perennial forb, two
shrubs, and two trees. The species and their relative cover included Quercus gambelli (29.52
percent relative cover), Bromus inermis (14.16% relative cover), Agropyron smithii (11.75
percent relative cover), Peraphyllum ramosissimum (5.42 percent relative cover),
Cercocarpus montanus (4.82% relative cover), Oryzopsis hymenoides (4.52% relative cover),
Agropyron trachycaulum (4.22% relative cover), and Juniperus osteosperma and
Sphaeralcea coccinea with 3.61 percent relative cover.
4.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
An area to be utilized as a comparative reference area to judge revegetation success at the
former Carbon Junction Mine was selected and quantitatively sampled in 2014 for vegetation
cover, herbaceous production, and species composition. The proposed reference area
contains three vegetation associations; a cool season graminoid pasture, mountain shrubland,
and pinyon juniper woodland. This mix of vegetation communities represents the native
vegetation present in the area disturbed by the Carbon Junction Mine in the early 1980's. In
discussions with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, this area was
determined to be the best available location for a reference area from which to sample and
establish final revegetation criteria for the reclaimed coal mine.
4.1 TOTAL VEGETATION COVER
Total mean vegetation cover of the proposed reference area was 24.50 percent. Vegetative
litter comprised 31.50 percent ground cover, bare soil provided 43.00 percent cover, and rock
accounted for 1.00 percent of the ground cover sampled.
4.2 TOTAL HERBACEOUS PRODUCTION
Mean total herbaceous production within the proposed reference area in 2014 was 66.9 g/m2
(596 lb/ac).
Oakridge Energy, Inc. Carbon Junction Mine Page 6
2014 Proposed Dryland Reference Area Report