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224.6 acres (4.5%) and resulted in an average of 894 woody plants <br />per acre. The 2017 sample data successfully exceeds 150 woody <br />plants per acre on 3% of the reclaimed area as required by Section <br />4.15.8 in Colowyo's PAP. <br />Post -mining Land Use <br />The post -mining land use at the Colowyo mine is rangeland and wildlife habitat. The Phase III <br />Bond Release areas requested with the SL -14 application were walked during the inspection. While <br />Colowyo has not used the reclaimed lands for domestic livestock grazing, there is a large resident <br />elk herd that uses the reclaimed lands extensively. There are also several smaller herds of deer and <br />pronghorn that use the reclaimed East and West Pit. The wildlife use includes grazing (including <br />winter grazing) and calving areas. <br />CAVroUrn <br />While no wildlife was observed at the East and West Pit reclamation parcels during the inspection, <br />previous inspections have documented sage grouse, large herds of elk as well as deer and pronghorn <br />in the area on a regular basis. <br />Hydrologic Balance - Evaluation of Hydrologic_Impacts Required by Section 3.03.2(2) <br />Rule 3.03.2(2) requires the Division to evaluate hydrologic impacts prior to releasing reclamation <br />lability. This evaluation must consider whether pollution or surface or subsurface water is occurring <br />and the probability of future occurrence with such pollution. The Division's evaluation is <br />summarized below. <br />Ground Water Impacts <br />Colowyo maintains three wells in the surrounding area of the SL -14 reclamation parcels that have <br />been monitored: the North Good Spring Well, the Gossard Well and A-6 Well. The A-6 Well <br />represent the ground water conditions upgradient from the mining areas while the North Good <br />Spring Well and Gossard Well represent conditions immediately below the mining area in the <br />Section16 Pit. <br />The North Good Spring Well and Gossard Well are alluvial wells located immediately down <br />gradient of the SL -14 parcels in the East and West Pit area. The A-6 Well is located further south <br />along the Good Springs Creek. Observations of the data from the North Good Springs Well <br />indicate that over time, water elevations have fluctuated with a slight decreasing trend beginning <br />around 2003. This trend is shown on Figure 6 in the report titled "East and West Pit Area Phase III <br />Bond Release Hydrological Assessment" of the SL -14 application. However, the average <br />groundwater level from pre -mining to post -mining conditions only differs approximately 0.6 feet <br />and mimics the fluctuation trends shown with the A6 Well. Groundwater levels for the Gossard <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance October 2018 <br />Partial Phase II and III Bond Release SL -14 Page 11 <br />