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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />(8) Timothy (Phleum pratense) <br />(9) Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) (Naturalized Taxon) <br />(10) Lutana Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer) <br />(11) Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) (Actually Native) <br />(12) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) <br />Of the 31 species approved, 21 species are native. On a seed weight basis, 65% of the seeds to be <br />planted are native species seed. <br />The introduced species were included in the mixture because they were thought to be necessary to <br />control erosion and because they provide forage for wildlife and livestock on the reclaimed area. <br />The research at Colowyo by the Colorado State University (CSU) Agronomy Department has <br />documented the superiority of the introduced species for revegetation purposes compared with <br />other species under similar conditions. The CSU study and two progress reports are set forth in <br />Exhibit 10, Vegetation Information. None of the introduced species are poisonous or noxious. For <br />further discussion of the value of introduced species for obtaining the desired post -mining <br />vegetative community of the same seasonal variety and lifeform of the pre -mined area, refer to <br />Section 2.05. <br />For post -2008 revegetation, the seed mix is comprised entirely of native species with the specific <br />exceptions described below. Introduced species would only be utilized in four possible <br />circumstances. The first would be reclaimed areas exhibiting a post -mining land use of pastureland <br />(specifically targeting domestic livestock grazing and/or haying operations). The second would <br />be in small areas potentially susceptible to excessive erosion where at the discretion of Colowyo's <br />reclamation coordinator, introduced species would provide the necessary protection. (Prior to use <br />of aggressive taxa to combat areas that are highly susceptible to erosion, an MR or TR (as <br />appropriate) will be obtained from CDRMS to address such circumstances.) The third possible <br />circumstance would be the inclusion of orchard grass at elevated densities in certain locations <br />designed to encourage elk away from other sites. (It has been documented that elk specifically <br />seek this species for consumption.) The fourth circumstance would be inclusion of modest <br />quantities of small burnett or nitrogen fixing legumes such as cicer milkvetch or alfalfa as <br />supplemental forage for deer, elk, and livestock. In addition, cicer milkvetch has proven to be an <br />excellent "habitat" plant for insects that are very important to foraging sage grouse chicks during <br />the brooding period. <br />4.15.3 Seeding and Planting <br />The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal period for <br />favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting period <br />and other revegetation metrics for Colowyo are set forth in Section 2.05.4. <br />4.15.4 Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices <br />As addressed in Section 2.05.4, Colowyo currently does not mulch, chisel plow, or terrace, because <br />sufficient surface roughness survives the topsoil laydown process to maintain the appropriate <br />roughness for modeled sediment control conditions. When necessary, chisel plowing, discing, <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-48 Revision Date: 11/27/18 <br />Revision No.: TR -129 <br />