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
The dominant species in the Reclamation Area, sand dropseed, was present along all 15 transects
and contributed 39.2% of the overall relative cover. Cheatgrass contributed only 5.4% of the
total relative cover which was a substantial decrease from the 47.7% relative cover observed in
2016. With cheatgrass removed six species contributed more than 3% of the relative cover
including (in decreasing order): sand dropseed, sixweeks fescue, sand bluestem, Canadian
horseweed, prairie sandreed, and Indiangrass (Sorghastnim nutans).
Total non -noxious herbaceous production within Reclamation Area 30 averaged 134.4 g/m2 in
2018 (Table 17, Appendix A) which is less than half the 270.7 g/m2 production observed in
2016. Annual species accounted for 24% of this production which exceeded the allowable 10%
to be used in final hypothesis testing. Thus, the average allowable herbaceous production was
only 116.0 g/mz.
Fourteen species from four life forms contributed to the cover data and another five species were
encountered along the transects (Table 18, Appendix Q. Fourteen grasses, four forbs, and one
woody species were recorded, 17 of which were native or desirable and two were introduced.
There were 13 perennial species and six annual species. Both warm and cool season grass
species contributed to the cover including nine warm season perennial species, one warm season
annual species, and two cool season annual species.
The allowable vegetation cover did not pass the technical standard when subjected to hypothesis
testing, but the allowable herbaceous production did pass (Table 19). Three warm season
perennial grass species and no cool season perennial species contributed greater than 3% and less
than 40% of the non -noxious relative cover. Thus, the Phase III bond release success criteria
were not met. A fourth warm season perennial species was not counted because it contributed
41.4% of the relative cover and a native annual cool season grass species contributed 17.5% of
the relative cover.
Table 18: Reclamation Area 30 Species Composition
Habitat Management, Inc. 22 October 2018
Cover
Life Form
Data
Present
Graminoids
Perennial
9
11
Annual
3
3
Native
11
13
Introduced
1
1
Cool Season
2
3
Warm Season
10
11
Total
12
14
Forbs
Perennial
0
1
Annual
2
3
Native
2
4
Introduced
0
0
Total
2
4
Woody Plants
0
1
Total Species
14
19
Habitat Management, Inc. 22 October 2018