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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />a) The area will be regraded in accordance with PMT requirements. <br />b) The area will be tested for overburden suitability as per requirements. <br />c) At least 48 inches of topsoil will be placed to replicate common topsoil depth conditions <br />in the surrounding area in stands of this nature. Once the topsoil has been placed, it will <br />be cross -ripped with a dozer or by other appropriate means to ensure the material is in a <br />loose, rough condition to encourage infiltration of rain/snowmelt and root development. <br />d) The entire trial area will be seeded with the modified Sagebrush Steppe Mix as seen <br />below. Weedguard fabric or it's equivalent will be placed in rows (at intervals of <br />approximately 22 feet) and will be used to severely reduce competition between the <br />containerized plantings and annual weeds and grasses. Please see the "Expected Field <br />Implementation Plan for Aspen/Tall Shrub Field Trials" illustration below. <br />e) Commercially available 2-3 foot containerized aspen stock will be used for planting <br />purposes from the most similar source elevation available in the area. Based on the volume <br />of containerized plants included in the trial (550), and the expectations of success, a number <br />of (300) live aspen plants within the trial during 2016 will be considered a successful <br />demonstration of Coloywo's ability to proceed further with additional plantings. <br />Supplemental planting of aspen will be initiated in year 2012 should survival of the 2011 <br />plantings be less than 350 stems/acre. Alternative methods for demonstrating compliance <br />with the establishment of aspen habitat in South Taylor will be initiated with the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife during 2013, should failure of this trial continue. <br />f) Aspen will be placed through the weed barrier by hand (or by mechanical means if <br />practical and economically feasible) as per best practices with regards to depth, etc. Proper <br />planting holes are important in transplant survival. Holes should be two to three times wider <br />than the root ball. If the soil is clay and the sides of the hole become glazed during digging, <br />the sides of the hole should be roughened with a spade. Holes should be prewatered before <br />planting in dry soils. This prevents initial postplant water from migrating away from the <br />root ball. Every effort will be made to plant at the same depth that the tree or shrub was <br />growing in its previous location. Damaged roots will be clean-cut with a sharp blade prior <br />to planting. If any circling or kinked roots are discovered during the transplanting <br />procedure, they will be severed to prevent future girdling of the plant. Every effort will be <br />made to orient the tree or shrub in the same direction, relative to the sun, as it was facing <br />in the previous location. Plantings will be performed in the fall by properly trained <br />personnel. Aspen planting densities will be one plant every four linear feet within a row. <br />g) Colowyo will place contour furrows immediately above approximately every third <br />fabric row (approximately every 66 feet). The trial will exhibit alternating bands of <br />modified Sagebrush Steppe mix (approximately 17 feet), fabric/containerized plantings (4- <br />5 feet wide), modified Sagebrush Steppe mix (approximately 17 feet), fabric/containerized <br />plantings (4-5 feet), modified Sagebrush Steppe mix (approximately 12 feet), contour <br />furrow (approximately 5 feet). This pattern should allow for specific emphasis on <br />containerized plantings establishment while minimizing the risk of excessive erosion <br />during the period of early establishment of the trial area. <br />h) An "elk proof' exclusionary fence will be erected around the perimeter of the entire <br />trial area to protect it from ungulates. <br />i) As this area will not be receiving supplemental watering, in the event of stand failure <br />the area will revert back to sagebrush steppe for purposes of Phase III bond release in the <br />future, with the exception that the requirement for 50% of the required 375 shrubs in this <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-56 Revision Date: 5/25/18 <br />Revision No.: RN -07 <br />