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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />The third scenario (preferred) would involve use of equipment such as a "Trillion" cultipacker type <br />broadcast seeder (or dribbler) to plant the entire mix indicated on Volume 15, Table 2.05-9 in a single <br />pass. The trillion seeder has been developed specifically for "precision seed placement' by "combining <br />the Truax seed box design with Brillion cultipacker rollers". Use of this equipment means obtaining the <br />seed mix with the seed blended in three separate categories for use in the three separate seed hoppers: 1) <br />small flowable seeds, 2) fluffy seeds, and 3) flowable large seed. (Filler material will also need to be <br />added to these different hopper mixes, as appropriate, to facilitate the correct metering.) The trillion <br />seeder firms the seedbed with the front row of cultipacker wheels, dribbles the seed immediately <br />following, and then "imprints" the seed to the correct depth with the rear set of cultipacker wheels. <br />Where the ground is uneven due to soil clods, rocks, or woody debris, proper seeding will require slower <br />travel speeds. If the seedbed is too uneven or "cloddy", it will need to be broken and modestly smoothed <br />by discing, harrowing, or chiseling to the point where equipment such as the trillion will work effectively. <br />Otherwise, most of the seed will not be imprinted to the proper depth and the risk of a seeding failure <br />would be substantially elevated. <br />Research into the use of these techniques, especially with "brillion" style seeders in Wyoming and Idaho <br />has indicated substantially elevated probabilities for success of sagebrush establishment at, or greater <br />than, the desired densities. Other procedural recommendations based on recent successes in Wyoming <br />and Idaho include: 1) proper seedbed preparation [standard agronomic practices]; 2) placement of <br />sagebrush seed at a very shallow depth (<5mm); 3) planting substantially elevated quantities of seed in <br />comparison to past conventions [at least 80 - 100 seeds/ft2 has been recommended by Agricultural <br />Research Service studies in Wyoming]; 4) planting seeds into a firm seedbed with only a light covering of <br />soil; 5) planting with direct -haul topsoil (as opposed to stockpiled) whenever possible; 6) planting into <br />soils with textures of silty -loam to sandy -loam where possible; 7) use of few -flowered Mountain big <br />sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. pauciflora) seed in the Colowyo environs; 8) use of sagebrush seed <br />collected from as close to the Axial Basin circumstances as possible; 9) planting mixes that exhibit <br />significantly reduced quantities of grass seed; 10) supplement with additional grass seed (if necessary) <br />two to three years after sagebrush seedlings have emerged; and 11) placement of grass, forb, and shrub <br />seed in differing rows to reduce interspecific competition when practical. <br />As previously indicated, sagebrush steppe revegetation will be primarily targeted on slopes exhibiting <br />gradients of 10% or flatter in the Collom area. At the discretion of the reclamation coordinator, the <br />sagebrush steppe mix may be applied to additional areas (up to 15% slope) for given opportunities that <br />may be presented. However, in any such circumstances where 10% slope is exceeded, specific sediment <br />control measures such as surface roughening, contour furrows and seeding on the contour of slopes is a <br />necessity. <br />Mulching Techniques <br />Mulches tend to shade the soil, thus slowing the rise in soil temperature needed for germination of seeds. <br />At Colowyo, soil moisture is not usually a limiting factor. Soil moisture is usually very high during the <br />spring, due to precipitation during the winter and early spring months. The summer months are generally <br />dry, often with little additional precipitation. By not utilizing mulch, soil temperatures are increased <br />earlier in the spring, thus enabling the seeds to germinate earlier when soil moisture conditions are <br />optimum. When the seeds germinate earlier, they are able to utilize soil moisture earlier in the growing <br />season. This results in further root development by the plants, aiding survival through the dry summer <br />months. <br />Surface manipulation methods such as contour furrows, drainage benches and permanent drainage <br />channels will be utilized to eliminate any sediment control issues sometimes rectified by using mulch. <br />Where deemed necessary by the reclamation coordinator (e.g., sagebrush steppe targeted areas, south- <br />Collom — Rule 2, Page 97 Revision Date: 11/16/16 <br />Revision No.: MR -166 <br />