2018-03-20_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (3)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS migrating away from the root ball. Every effort will be made to plant at the same depth that the tree or shrub was growing in its previous location. Damaged roots will be clean-cut with a sharp blade prior to planting. If any circling or kinked roots are discovered during the transplanting procedure, they will be severed to prevent future girdling of the plant. Every effort will be made to orient the tree or shrub in the same direction, relative to the sun, as it was facing in the previous location. Plantings will be performed in the fall by properly trained personnel. Serviceberry and chokecherry planting densities will be one plant every four linear feet (1/2 serviceberry, 1/2 chokecherry) within a row. g) Colowyo will place contour furrows immediately above approximately every third fabric row (approximately every 66 feet). The trial will exhibit alternating bands of modified Sagebrush Steppe mix (approximately 17 feet), fabric/containerized plantings (4-5 feet wide), modified Sagebrush Steppe mix (approximately 17 feet), fabric/containerized plantings (4-5 feet), modified Sagebrush Steppe mix (approximately 12 feet) contour furrow (approximately 5 feet). This pattern should allow for specific emphasis on containerized plantings establishment while minimizing the risk of excessive erosion during the period of early establishment of the trial area. h) An "elk proof' exclusionary fence will be erected around the perimeter of entire trial area to protect it from ungulates. i) In the event of stand failure the area will revert back to sagebrush steppe for purposes of Phase III bond release in the future, with the exception that the requirement for 50% of the required 375 shrubs in this area be big sagebrush (Section 4.15.8), this requirement will reasonably be dropped, due to the reduction in sagebrush seed included in the mix applied. 3) Colowyo agrees to establish one small (one acre) tall shrub establishment site with thin topsoil conditions. The location of this area will be in the immediate proximity of the South Taylor X coal pod as portrayed below and on Map 28B. The location for this trial represents elevation and aspect characteristics that are very similar to the majority of the tall shrub areas disturbed in the South Taylor area. Slope characteristics are more moderate than the areas disturbed, but for purposes of implementing and monitoring this trial it was determined essential that access and stability of the test location be manageable. Actual results from the trial should yield information that can be used to apply additional stability and/or sediment control measures on larger areas if this attempt is successful. a) The area will be regraded in accordance with PMT requirements. Additional ripping of the overburden material will be conducted by a dozer to a depth of approximately four feet to ensure the material is in a loose, rough condition to encourage infiltration of rain/snowmelt and root development. Overburden with a significant coarse fragment component is desireable. b) The area will be tested for overburden suitability as per requirements. c) An approximate average of four inches of topsoil will be placed to replicate common topsoil depth conditions in the surrounding area in stands of this nature. Once the topsoil has been placed, it will be roughened with a disc (pulled by a dozer or other appropriate machine) to ensure the material is in a loose, rough condition to encourage infiltration of rain/snowmelt and root development. d) The Sagebrush Steppe mix has been modified to reduce the volume of "low shrubs" in favor of tall shrub components of the mix. The grasses currently included in the mix were reduced to minimize competition, while still providing some soil stabilization function. The entire trial area will be seeded with the modified Sagebrush Steppe Mix as seen below. In the event individual components of the mix are unavailable, guidance from the Division will be sought prior to implementation of the trial. Weedguard fabric or it's equivalent will be placed in rows (at intervals of approximately 22 feet) and will be used to severely reduce competition between the containerized plantings and annual weeds and grasses. Please see the "Expected Field Implementation Plan for Aspen/Tall Shrub Field Trials" illustration below. e) Containerized 2-3 foot serviceberry and mahogany plants will utilized from the most similar source elevation available in the region available. Based on the volume of containerized plants Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-51 Revision Date: 1/31/18 Revision No.: TR -119