Laserfiche WebLink
3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION: PRE-SMCRA RECLAIMED AREAS <br />The eligible pre-SMCRA reclaimed sites range from 0.3 to 3.3 acres in size. The location, <br />size, and age of the reclaimed sites are provided in the Appendix. Specific vegetation <br />information for the pre-SMCRA reclaimed areas is contained in Tables 1. and 2. <br />3.1.1 Total Live Vegetation Cover: Pre-SMCRA Reclaimed Areas <br />Twenty-two quantitative cover samples were collected in the pre-SMCRA reclaimed areas. <br />Total mean live vegetation cover of the pre-SMCRA reclaimed areas was 53.00 percent. <br />Graminoids provided 23.73 percent mean vegetation cover, forbs accounted for 24.36 percent <br />mean vegetation cover, and woody species contributed 4.91 percent mean vegetation cover. <br />The most frequently encountered species was Melilotus ofcinalis (yellow sweetclover), <br />present in 95 percent of the 22 transects sampled for vegetation cover. Agropyron smithii <br />(western wheatgrass) was found in 86 percent of transects sampled, Lepidium perfoliatum <br />(pepperweed) was encountered in 68 percent of the cover transects, and Agropyron <br />trachycaulum (slender wheatgrass) was found in 54 percent of the cover transects. All <br />remaining species were encountered in fewer than fifty percent of the vegetation cover <br />transects. <br />Vegetative litter (prior years growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised 35.18 percent ground cover overall within the pre-SMCRA reclaimed areas. Bare <br />soil comprised 6.36 percent of the ground cover. Rock accounted for 5.45 percent of the <br />ground cover sampled. <br />3.2 COMPARISON OF RECLAIMED AREAS WITH THE PHASE III <br />REVEGETATION SUCCESS CRITERION <br />Comparison of the reclaimed areas mean for total live vegetation cover for pre-SMCRA <br />reclaimed areas with the total live vegetation cover final bond release success criterion <br />indicates whether revegetation has been successful and compliant with requirements for Phase <br />III bond release. Applicable Rule 4.15.10(1) requires that the minimum ground cover of living <br />plants shall not be less than can be supported by the best available topsoil or other suitable <br />material in the areas, shall not be less than the ground cover existing before redisturbance, and <br />shall be adequate to control erosion. The final bond release vegetation success criterion for <br />cover was developed and approved in Technical Revision 77. The total live vegetation cover <br />success criterion is 19.3 percent. <br />Oxbow Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 6 <br />2020 Phase III Bond Kelease Pre-5MCKA Vegetation Report <br />