2021-01-14_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (3)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Wildlife Habitat Seed Mixture The reclamation seed mixture for areas targeting wildlife habitate (sagebrush steppe) is presented in Table 2.05-8. The sagebrush steppe seed mixture also contains sufficient diversity for ecological stability. This mixture contains a variety of grasses, forbs and shrub species well adapted to the soil and moisture conditions found at Colowyo and should provide both the structural diversity and life form diversity necessary for the designated sagebrush steppe wildlife habitat. The seed mixture includes species capable of occupying the anticipated micro-habitats encountered in the reclaimed areas and contains sufficient sagebrush seed to hopefully encourage at least some emergence each year,and occasional substantial emergence when climatic conditions are favorable. Similar to the seed mixture for grassland areas, the species and seeding rates indicated on this sagebrush steppe mix resulted from in-depth analyses of past mixes and the resulting emergence and dominance within successful revegetated areas at Colowyo. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the reduced competition from grasses, especially sod-forming species such as thickspike wheatgrass, will result in elevated diversity and better performance from slower growing species. Although not yet identified as an issue on Colowyo's reclamation, because the amount of grasses (and all sod-formers) has been substantially reduced for this sagebrush steppe mix, it is possible that on occasion,grass emergence may not be satisfactory for erosion control or life form diversity. If this scenario occurs in the future, a supplemental inter-seeding with the grassland mix may be utilized to increase the grass and forb component of the specific area. This activity is allowed under Rule 4.15.7 (5)(g). Contingency Seed Substitutions Table 2.05-9 provide a list of contingency species for Table 2.05-7 and Table 2.05-8,should certain taxa be unavailable or unwarranted in any given year. Fencing Where Colowyo deems appropriate, smaller areas within a larger areas seeded to wildlife habitat may be fenced to encourage shrub development and to limit browsing by local wildlife. Mulching Techniques Mulching techniques are not currently employed at Colowyo, except in rare instances. During the initial permitting processes, Colowyo proposed that on slopes flatter than 4h:ly that rather than utilize a hay mulch, a stubble mulch or no mulch be used on reclaimed areas. The use of mulch on these relatively flat slopes was demonstrated to be of no value towards reclamation at the Colowyo site. The application of mulch was identified to produced problems with delayed germination on the reclaimed areas, rather than solving an assumed erosion problem, which is addressed through other methods. Mulches tend to shade the soil,thus slowing the rise in soil temperature needed for germination of seeds. At Colowyo, the higher elevation and typical late spring snows result in cooler spring Rule 2 Permits 2.05-21 Revision Date: 10/27/20 Revision No.: TR-143