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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br /> Diversity <br /> The initial Permit Application addressed Diversity by using the Shannon Weiner Index to measure <br /> the distribution of species within the existing premine vegetation community. Over the early years <br /> of SMCRA compliance, this procedure was determined to be problematic for this use as a means <br /> to evaluate diversity. <br /> Colowyo did not feel comfortable using such a complicated Index, but did so because it was the <br /> norm at the time to use this method. <br /> Since the initial Permit Application, CDRMS regulations have been revised to allow for the use of <br /> comparisons of species composition based on cover between the reclaimed area and the <br /> undisturbed vegetation. <br /> This method of analyzing diversity was applied to the weighted premine herbaceous vegetation <br /> cover data originally sampled and summarized in Section 2.04.10 on Table 2, 1980 Herbaceous <br /> Cover by Species. <br /> A total of four species with a combined contribution to diversity of 43.4% have been chosen to <br /> characterize the premine vegetative community diversity standard. <br /> The vegetative species with their contribution to diversity are as follows: <br /> Species % Contribution to Diversity <br /> (1) Poa pratenensis 22.6% <br /> (2) Agropyron Smithii 10.8% <br /> (3) Achillea lanulosa 6.7% <br /> (4) Stipa viridula 3.3% <br /> 43.4% <br /> Although Gallium and Lupinus caudatus rank reasonably well in the diversity(composition)scale, <br /> they were not included in the diversity goals for reclamation. Gallium is an annual,while Lupinus <br /> caudatus is considered toxic to livestock and is most likely a product of overgrazing. Colowyo is <br /> interested in reclaiming with vegetation species with equal or superior utility for the postmining <br /> land use when compared with the utility of the naturally occurring premine vegetation. Neither <br /> Gallium nor Lupinus provides any utility towards supporting the premining land use. <br /> Three of the species are perennial cool season grasses and one specie is a perennial forb. All of <br /> the species are found throughout the premine area on all soil types and moisture regimes. The <br /> grass species all provide the qualities for excellent erosion control and livestock use. All four <br /> species of vegetation exhibit high utility towards the premine land use. <br /> It is important to note that the species exhibiting the greatest contribution to the premine vegetative <br /> diversity is Kentucky Bluegrass,Poa pratensis,which is not considered a native. It exhibits nearly <br /> 23% of the composition, over twice that of the next most dominant species, Western Wheatgrass, <br /> Agropyron smithii, at nearly 11%. <br /> Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-60 Revision Date: 12/20/19 <br /> Revision No.: TR-135 <br />