2018-03-20_PERMIT FILE - M2017049 (2)

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Transit Mix Concrete Co. vegetation of the surrounding areas, thus protecting the new vegetation. This revegetation plan has been designed to provide for the greatest probability of success in plant establishment and vegetation development to create wildlife habitat. The variety of"microsites" on a project area changes with the amount of topographic variation on the area. Where the variation is significant, different seeding mixtures should be used on different slopes (Brown & Hallwell, 1984). This includes slope gradient, aspect, and elevation. Existing vegetation and plant communities on the site vary considerably and are largely dictated by changes in slope, aspect and elevation. Therefore, to increase reclamation and revegetation success post mining, the proportions of the various species are varied based on these three parameters. Proposed species are based upon vegetation sampling conducted onsite by BIO- Logic during preparation of Exhibits H and J with input from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USFS, CPW, Colorado Forest Service (CFS), and technical mining industry documents, which consultation informed Transit Mix in developing its reclamation plan and enhancing wildlife habitat. Once topsoil is redistributed, the affected areas will be revegetated with native grasses and then shrubs and trees. This mix establishes the initial ground cover with the grasses and the long- term canopy cover with the trees or shrubs, as recommended by surface mine reclamation practices (WDNR, 1997). Shrub and tree species were chosen based on existing site conditions as discussed in Exhibit J; the species were also selected based on input from NRCS, USFS, USFWS, CPW, and El Paso County. Additional species were added specifically to encourage elk and turkey habitat. All areas will be seeded with the grass seed mix included in Table E-7 to provide a base revegetated cover. The basis for this seed mix was provided by NRCS for the project area to provide a seed mix conducive with site conditions in order to achieve the final post mining land use. The seed mix was then combined with the CPW seed mix for tallgrass prairie and revised based on the results of communications between CPW and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC, 2017). The list was further revised to only include species available from local seed distributors. Similarly, tree and shrubs species lists were revised to include recommendations from the City of Colorado Springs and then further revised to only include species available from local nurseries. As recommended by WHC, Transit Mix will work with seed distributors in attempts to increase the species available to better match the CPW seed mix. Seed coatings and other seed treatments may be required to promote germination (USDA, 2001). All seed will be applied with a seed drill. Drill seeders create small furrows on the contours which help trap precipitation and reduce runoff and erosion thereby promoting seed growth (Vogel, 1987). The areas of the various planting mixes are summarized below in Table E-2, and the individual plant lists are included in Tables E-3 through E-7. Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application March 20,2018 E-8