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Dryland Pasture <br /> Three small Dryland Pasture parcels were requested for Phase II bond release;DP-10, 8.1 acres; DP-14, <br /> 1.3 acres: and DP-15,2.3 acres. The Division measured an average of 23.25"topsoil replaced on parcel <br /> DP-10. Map 2 of SL-22 application shows that ERMR measured 26"and 24"of topsoil replacement in <br /> Parcel DP-10. Both the Division's measurements and the operator's measurements of the replaced <br /> topsoil thickness exceed the required 15"to 24". Parcel DP-15, consisting of 2.3 acres, an average of <br /> 15"topsoil replacement thickness was verified at one randomly located hole during the inspection. Map <br /> No. 2 shows that ERMR measured the topsoil thickness in this parcel at 20.4". The Division finds that <br /> the replaced topsoil thickness meets the minimum replacement thickness of 15". Parcel DP-14, consists <br /> of a 1.3 acre area that allows for farm vehicle traffic to access fields on the east side of the SE 1/4 of <br /> Section 36. Due to the size a post-mining use of this parcel,no holes were dug to verify topsoil <br /> replacement thickness. <br /> Phase II Vegetation Observations: <br /> Irrigated Cropland/Prime Farmland bond release block(BRB)consisted of 107.8 acres,parcel PF-1. <br /> Parcel PF-1 was sampled for vegetation productivity in 2017,2018, and 2019. Production was measured <br /> by hay bales counts produced on both the reclaimed parcel and the bales produced on the irrigated <br /> cropland reference area. The hay bale counts were provided to the operator by the land owner, and the <br /> production weight calculated from the average bale weight. The bale counts were counted from the first <br /> cutting. Subsequent cutting may have been conducted during the growing seasons,but the success <br /> determination is based on the data from the first cutting. <br /> Herbaceous cover was measured on the irrigated cropland/prime farmland BRB for sedimentation <br /> demonstration calculations. <br /> ERMR provided the following results of three years of production measurements on the Irrigated <br /> cropland/prime farmland bond release block: <br /> Prime farmland production yield Lbs/acre <br /> year Reclaimed Parcel Reference area Meets standard? <br /> 2017 %202 71260 yes <br /> 2018 5,032 41620 yes <br /> 2019 41757 41697 yes <br /> The operator has demonstrated that they have achieved soil productivity on the Prime farmland/irrigated <br /> cropland bond release block. <br /> The Dryland Pasture bond release block(BRB)vegetative cover was measured as 17.73%live <br /> vegetation, 0.5 3%rock,42.00%litter, and 3 9.73%bare ground. Of the live vegetative cover perennial <br /> species accounted for 94.36%,with 3.76%composed of annual or biennial species. No noxious species <br /> were counted in the sampling effort. The Dryland pasture reference area exhibited 15.17%live <br /> vegetative cover,20.17%rock,21.10%litter, and 33.57%bare ground. Of the dryland pasture reference <br /> area 100%or the live vegetative cover was attributable to perennial species,with no annuals or <br /> biennials, and no noxious species encountered. The live vegetative cover on the reclaimed dryland <br /> Permit Number C1981-008:SL22 Page 10 of 17 <br />