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Tabetha Lynch <br />Page 4 <br />July 11, 2016 <br />The revegetation productivity success standard is 47.46 grams per square meter or 11.87 g/1/4 <br />m2 for the range site C reclamation block. In 2014, the forage production on the range site C <br />reclamation block averaged 81.05 g/1/4 m2 or 324.19 g/m2 according to the revegetation <br />monitoring report. According to the report, in 2015, forage production averaged 86.07 g/1/4 m2 <br />or 344.29 g/m2 for the range site C block. However, based on the Division's review there was an <br />error on Table 8 (Rangeland Reclamation Block C, 2015 Production) in the revegetation <br />monitoring report. For Transect 20, the reported production for perennial grasses was noted as <br />"55.4-0", and it appears the production from perennial grasses from this transect was not <br />included in the total production for the transect. Assuming the perennial grasses production was <br />55.4 g/1/4m2 for transect 20 the Division estimated the mean production at the site to be 8 5. 11 <br />g/1/4 m2 or 340.44 g/m2. Since the reclaimed area production value exceeds the revegetation <br />success standards, as allowed in the Division's existing regulations (Rule 4.15.11(2)), and <br />applying the reverse null statistical approach for statistical adequacy, it can be concluded that the <br />requested reclaimed range site C block satisfies the requirements with respect to production. <br />Species diversity success was determined from the vegetative cover data. The species diversity <br />success standard on rangeland areas of the Trapper mine consists of a minimum of four cool <br />season perennial grass species and one forb species. Each of the contributing species needs to <br />contribute at least 3 percent relative cover but no more than 50 percent relative cover. No four <br />species may contribute greater than 80 percent relative cover. For the range site A/B block, in <br />2014, there were a total of six cool season perennial grasses that met the relative cover criteria <br />(Great Basin Wildrye, Western Wheatgrass , Kentucky Bluegrass, Sheep Fescue Intermediate <br />Wheatgrass and Bluebunch Wheatgrass) and two forb species (Alfalfa and Western Yarrow). Of <br />these, a single species contributed 14.16% of total relative cover with the four most dominant <br />species on the site contributing 44.35% of the total relative cover on the site. In the 2015 <br />sampling for the range site A/B block, there were Eve cool season grasses that met the relative <br />cover criteria (Great Basin Wildrye, Western Wheatgrass, Intermediate Wheatgrass, Kentucky <br />Bluegrass and Sheep Fescue) and one forb species (Alfalfa) with the most dominate species <br />contributing 20.21 % of the total relative cover with the four most dominant species on the site <br />contributing 61.27% of the total relative cover on the site. The revegetation monitoring confirms <br />that for both sampling periods, the species diversity standard has been met for the range site A/B <br />block. <br />The species diversity standard discuss above is the same for the range site C block. In 2014, <br />there were a total of five cool season perennial grasses that met the relative cover criteria <br />(Intermediate Wheatgrass, Great Basin Wildrye, Western Wheatgrass, Smooth Brome and Sheep <br />Fescue) and one forb species (Alfalfa). Of these, a single species contributed 17.97% of total <br />relative cover with the four most dominant species on the site contributing 53.28% of the total <br />