2019-03-28_REPORT - C1981028

• Permit No: C1981028
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 3/28/2019
• Doc Name: Annual Hydrology Report
• From: Coors Energy Company
• To: DRMS
• Annual Report Year: 2018
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Email Name: RDZ
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Keenesburg Mine 2018 Vegetation Monitoring Report
INTRODUCTION
Coors Energy Company (CEC) operated the Keenesburg Mine for coal extraction from 1980 to
1988 and is now conducting reclamation activities under Colorado Division of Reclamation
Mining and Safety (DRMS) Mining and Reclamation Permit C-1981-028. Reclamation activities
include backfilling, grading, topsoiling, and revegetation in accordance with CEC's approved
DRMS reclamation plan. Vegetation monitoring of reclaimed areas is required by DRMS. This
report presents the results of annual reclamation monitoring conducted on August 13 —17, 2018
by Habitat Management, Inc. Quantitative information in this report characterizes the vegetative
condition of Reclamation Areas 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34. Vegetation sampling was
performed in compliance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Surface Coal Mining
Rules 2.04. 10 and 4.15 and currently accepted methods for vegetation sampling.
The Keenesburg Mine is in Weld County, Colorado, approximately seven miles north of the
town of Keenesburg and is accessed by Weld County Road 59. In 2002, the Keenesburg Mine
assigned numerical designations to each reclamation area starting in the northeast corner of the
permit area and continuing clockwise through the reclaimed areas. Newly reclaimed areas are
assigned consecutive numbers as needed (Figure 1). In previous years Reclamation Area 23 was
monitored alone as a 0.7 -acre unit; however, in 2018 CEC received approval from DRMS to
combine Reclamation Area 23 with Reclamation Area 29. Reclamation Areas monitored in 2018
are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Reclamation Areas Monitored in 201 R
Reclamation
Area
Acres
Seeding
Date
Reclamation
Status
25
12.6
2012
Phase I
29*
8.8
2003 2002
Phase II
30
9.7
2006
Phase I
31
11.9
2009
Phase I
32
5.5
2015
Phase I
33
12.5
2015
Phase I
34
6.9
2016
Phase I
* includes the previously separated Reclamation Area 23.
Reclamation Areas 29, 30, and 31 were monitored using the guidelines for Phase III bond
release, while Reclamation Areas 25, 32, 33, and 34 were monitored using the guidelines for
Phase II bond release. Reclamation Areas 25, 29, 30, and 31 were last monitored in 2016. No
vegetation monitoring was conducted in 2017 due to a large hail storm in early August that
devastated the vegetation. This year was the first year of monitoring for Areas 32, 33, and 34.
2 METHODS
The monitoring methods and revegetation standards used to evaluate these areas are those
currently in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101)
and the Keenesburg Mining and Reclamation Permit.
Habitat Management, Inc. ' October 2018