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3.2.2 Total Herbaceous Production: Post-SMCRA Reclaimed Areas <br />Mean total herbaceous production within the Elk Creek Mine post-SMCRA reclaimed areas in <br />2019 was 250.51 g/m2 (2233 lb/ac). <br />3.2.3 Species Composition: Post-SMCRA Reclaimed Areas <br />Cover sampling identified three lifeforms and fifty-three plant species within the post-SMCRA <br />reclaimed areas. The lifeforms included fourteen species of perennial grass, two annual <br />graminoid species, twenty-two perennial forbs, three biennial forbs, five annual forbs, and <br />seven perennial woody plant species. Of the species encountered within the post-SMCRA <br />reclaimed areas, thirty-four were native and nineteen were introduced. Perennial species <br />outnumbered biennial and annual species by forty-three to ten. All herbaceous species were <br />cool season. All of the woody plants were deciduous. <br />Species providing significant relative cover (>2%) included; Agropyron smithii (18.33%), Poa <br />sandbergii (12.36%), Bromus marginatus (10.97%), Onobrychis viciafoliae (6.71%), Achillea <br />lanulosa (3.85%), Astragalus cicer (3.60%), Agropyron spicatum (3.44%), Elymus cinereus <br />(3.27%), Agropyron dasystachyum (2.62%). Aster chilensis (2.13%), Medicago sativa <br />(2.13%), and Poa bulbosa (2.13%). <br />3.3 COMPARISON OF POST-SMCRA RECLAIMED AREAS WITH PHASE III <br />REVEGETATION SUCCESS CRITERIA <br />Comparison of the post-SMCRA reclaimed area values for total vegetation cover, herbaceous <br />production, and species composition with the applicable revegetation success criteria indicates <br />whether revegetation has been successful and compliant with requirements for Phase III bond <br />release. CDRMS Rule 3.03.1(2) provides for release of bond, "upon the establishment of <br />vegetation which supports the approved post -mining land use and which meets the approved <br />success standard for cover pursuant to 4.15.8..." The tables below allow the comparison of <br />the parameter values from the 2019 sampling at the reclaimed areas with the final revegetation <br />criteria to be achieved. <br />Post-SMCRA Reclamation Success: Total Vegetation Cover (2019) <br />Xbar <br />Number of samples <br />Number of samples for sample adequacy <br />2019 Extended 2019 post-SMCRA <br />Reference Area Reclaimed Areas <br />9.34% (1) <br />65.25% <br />8.09% <br />8.85% <br />30 <br />32 <br />2 <br />3 <br />(1) Vegetation success criterion is the total herbaceous cover of the extended reference area <br />Oxbow Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 8 <br />2019 Phase III Bond Kelease Post-SMCRA Vegetation Report <br />