Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 2 - PERMITS <br />(Table 2 in Exhibit 2.04.10-E1, Vegetation Information). The livestock carrying capacity was <br />• calculated at 0.453 aura per acre. <br />• Mined and Reclaimed Land (MR) — This vegetation cover type, includes lands disturbed and <br />reclaimed as part of prior coal mine operations within the Seneca II permit area. This cover <br />type comprises Bond Release Block (BRB) 2, BRB 3, as well as other reclaimed areas not <br />included as a BRB. <br />BRB 2 includes land reclaimed between February 25, 1976 and September 21, 1981. These <br />areas were subject to provisions of what may be termed "Interim" rules preceding the formal <br />start of provisions of the Colorado Permanent Regulatory Program. Total average vegetation <br />cover for first hits was 49.7 percent. For herbaceous vegetation, total average cover for first hits <br />was 46.2 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock averaged six, 28, 17, and <br />less than one percent, respectively. Average species density was 18.5 species per 100 square <br />meters. Introduced perennial cool season grasses consisting predominantly of intermediate <br />wheatgrass and smooth brome are the predominant life form, contributing 28 percent total first - <br />hits for vegetation cover. Introduced perennial forbs contributed 13 percent first -hits for <br />vegetation cover. This total was predominantly composed of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). <br />Additionally, native shrubs consisting primarily of big sagebrush, contributed nearly four <br />percent first -hit vegetation cover. <br />During ESCO's monitoring of BRB 2 in 2006, total herbaceous production was 1,672 lbs. per <br />acre. Of this, 998 lbs. were introduced perennial cool season grasses. Introduced perennial forbs <br />were the only other life form functioning as a significant producer, contributing 576 lbs. per <br />acre. <br />BRB 3 includes land reclaimed between September 22, 1981 and December 31, 1996. These <br />areas were subject to provisions of the Colorado Permanent Regulatory Program and were at <br />least ten years old at the time of this sampling. <br />Introduced perennial cool season grasses were the predominant life form observed in the <br />Reclaimed Area BRB-3, contributing 23.4 percent first -hits for vegetation cover. Of this, nearly <br />17 percent was intermediate wheatgrass and 6 percent was smooth brome. Introduced perennial <br />forbs contributed 12.8 percent first -hits for vegetation cover. This amount was predominantly <br />composed of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (9.2 percent) and titer milkvetch (Astragalus titer) (3.6 <br />percent). Additionally, native perennial cool season grasses contributed to 5.6 percent first -hits <br />for vegetation cover. These grasses consist primarily of sheep fescue (Festuca brachyphylla <br />ssp. coloradensis), mountain brome, and basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus). <br />Total average vegetation cover for first hits was 47.0 percent. For herbaceous vegetation, total <br />average cover for first hits was 45.1 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock <br />averaged 6.5, 18.1, 27.1 and 1.3 percent, respectively. Average species density was 22.9 species <br />per 100 square meters. <br />Total herbaceous production in 2006 was 1,424.1 lbs. per acre. Of this, 797 lbs. were introduced <br />perennial cool season grasses, 342 were introduced perennial forbs, and 219 were native <br />• perennial cool season grasses. Four other life forms were present with a combined contribution <br />of less than 100 lbs. per acre. <br />PSCM Permit App. 2.04-135 6/15/09 <br />