2019-04-16_REVISION - C1981019 (3)

Home Browse Search

RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-49 Revision Date: 4/16/19 Revision No.: MR-200 (10) Lutana Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer) (11) Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) (Actually Native) (12) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Of the 31 species approved, 21 species are native. On a seed weight basis, 65% of the seeds to be planted are native species seed. The introduced species were included in the mixture because they were thought to be necessary to control erosion and because they provide forage for wildlife and livestock on the reclaimed area. The research at Colowyo by the Colorado State University (CSU) Agronomy Department has documented the superiority of the introduced species for revegetation purposes compared with other species under similar conditions. The CSU study and two progress reports are set forth in Exhibit 10, Vegetation Information. None of the introduced species are poisonous or noxious. For further discussion of the value of introduced species for obtaining the desired post-mining vegetative community of the same seasonal variety and lifeform of the pre-mined area, refer to Section 2.05. For post-2008 revegetation, the seed mix is comprised entirely of native species with the specific exceptions described below. Introduced species would only be utilized in four possible circumstances. The first would be reclaimed areas exhibiting a post-mining land use of pastureland (specifically targeting domestic livestock grazing and/or haying operations). The second would be in small areas potentially susceptible to excessive erosion where at the discretion of Colowyo’s reclamation coordinator, introduced species would provide the necessary protection. (Prior to use of aggressive taxa to combat areas that are highly susceptible to erosion, an MR or TR (as appropriate) will be obtained from CDRMS to address such circumstances.) The third possible circumstance would be the inclusion of orchard grass at elevated densities in certain locations designed to encourage elk away from other sites. (It has been documented that elk specifically seek this species for consumption.) The fourth circumstance would be inclusion of modest quantities of small burnett or nitrogen fixing legumes such as cicer milkvetch or alfalfa as supplemental forage for deer, elk, and livestock. In addition, cicer milkvetch has proven to be an excellent “habitat” plant for insects that are very important to foraging sage grouse chicks during the brooding period. 4.15.3 Seeding and Planting The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal period for favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting period and other revegetation metrics for Colowyo are set forth in Section 2.05.4. 4.15.4 Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices As addressed in Section 2.05.4, Colowyo currently does not mulch, chisel plow, or terrace, because sufficient surface roughness survives the topsoil laydown process to maintain the appropriate roughness for modeled sediment control conditions. When necessary, chisel plowing, discing, terracing and/or contour furrows could/would be utilized to stabilize, reduce compaction and increase the moisture retention of graded topsoiled areas. Chisel plowing is the most preferred