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Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> irrigation, soil amendments or fertilizer, and is at least equal in extent of cover to the natural <br /> vegetation of the surrounding areas, thus protecting the new vegetation. This revegetation plan <br /> has been designed to provide for the greatest probability of success in plant establishment and <br /> vegetation development to create wildlife habitat. <br /> The variety of "microsites" on a project area changes with the amount of topographic variation <br /> on the area. Where the variation is significant, different seeding mixtures should be used on <br /> different slopes (Brown & Hallwell, 1984). This includes slope gradient, aspect, and elevation. <br /> Existing vegetation and plant communities on the site vary considerably and are largely dictated <br /> by changes in slope, aspect and elevation. Therefore, to increase reclamation and revegetation <br /> success post mining, the proportions of the various species are varied based on these three <br /> parameters. Proposed species are based upon vegetation sampling conducted onsite by BIO- <br /> Logic during preparation of Exhibits H and J with input from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br /> (USFWS), USFS, CPW, Colorado Forest Service (CFS), and technical mining industry <br /> documents, which consultation informed Transit Mix in developing its reclamation plan and <br /> enhancing wildlife habitat. <br /> Once topsoil is redistributed, the affected areas will be revegetated with native grasses and then <br /> shrubs and trees. This mix establishes the initial ground cover with the grasses and the long- <br /> term canopy cover with the trees or shrubs, as recommended by surface mine reclamation <br /> practices (WDNR, 1997). Shrub and tree species were chosen based on existing site conditions <br /> as discussed in Exhibit J; the species were also selected based on input from NRCS, USFS, <br /> USFWS, CPW, and El Paso County. Additional species were added specifically to encourage <br /> elk and turkey habitat. All areas will be seeded with the grass seed mix included in Table E-3 to <br /> provide a base revegetated cover. The basis for this seed mix was provided by NRCS for the <br /> project area to provide a seed mix conducive with site conditions in order to achieve the final <br /> post mining land use. The seed mix was then combined with the CPW seed mix for tallgrass <br /> prairie and revised based on the results of communications between CPW and the Wildlife <br /> Habitat Council (WHC, 2017). The list was further revised to only include species available from <br /> local seed distributors. Similarly, tree and shrubs species lists were revised to include <br /> recommendations from the City of Colorado Springs and then further revised to only include <br /> species available from local nurseries. As recommended by WHC, Transit Mix will work with <br /> seed distributors in attempts to increase the species available to better match the CPW seed <br /> mix. Seed coatings and other seed treatments may be required to promote germination (USDA, <br /> 2001). All seed will be applied with a seed drill. Drill seeders create small furrows on the <br /> contours which help trap precipitation and reduce runoff and erosion thereby promoting seed <br /> growth (Vogel, 1987). The areas of the various planting mixes are summarized below in Table <br /> E-2, and the individual plant lists are included in Tables E-3 through E-7. <br /> V <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application <br /> March 9, 2018 E-8 <br />