Laserfiche WebLink
include intermediate wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass,western wheatgrass, slender <br /> wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, timothy, alfalfa, and yellow sweet clover. <br /> Adjacent and undisturbed lands tend to have a high incidence of shrubs. Heavy use by <br /> livestock grazing has aided in the increase of shrub densities. Postmining vegetation <br /> communities will be: dryland pasture, improved pasture, cropland and rangeland. Due to the <br /> narrow configuration of the area designated as rangeland (approximately 200-250 ft wide), <br /> no woody plant density standard will be imposed on the rangeland area. The Division has <br /> received confirmation from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in a letter dated March 10, <br /> 1993 that the absence of a woody plant component in the rangeland area would not be <br /> detrimental to wildlife use and would increase the "edge" effect along adjacent shrublands. <br /> Four seed mixes will be used in the Loadout area. Each mix has been formulated for <br /> adaptation to a particular land use and location for which it will be planted. HGL proposes <br /> to include an introduced legume, alfalfa, in the rangeland seed mix. The Division proposes <br /> to approve the use of a less aggressive species of alfalfa, such as Medicago falcata, in small <br /> quantities in the seed mix. <br /> An additional seed mixture is approved for a portion of the TAHR: Seed mix No. 5. Seed <br /> mix No. 5 is designated for reclaimed lowland/meadow areas within the TAHR corridor. <br /> The mix has been designed for the wet saline or alkaline conditions and heavy textures soils <br /> which are likely to be present within this area. In particular, the western end of the TAHR <br /> corridor and many of the drainages were wet and saline/alkaline prior to construction of the <br /> TAHR. Given the uncertainty of the future of the Tie-Across Haul Road and the unknown <br /> cropping needs in 2030 when this road is designated to be reclaimed, the following <br /> stipulation was added to the permit: <br /> Stipulation No. 9: Prior to initiation of reclamation of the Tie-Across Haul Road, the <br /> permittee must submit and receive approval of a technical revision to update the <br /> revegetation plan for the cropland areas to comply with Rule 2.05.4(2)(e). This plan must <br /> include a description of the measures proposed to be used to determine revegetation <br /> success for the cropland area in accordance with Rule 4.15.7(2) and Rule 4.15.9. <br /> Drill seeding will be the preferred method of planting. Broadcast or hydroseeding will be <br /> employed where steep slopes or small areas limit accessibility of the seed drill. Mulching <br /> will be achieved by use of a cover crop of winter wheat or barley. HGL has found that the <br /> use of straw mulch introduces undesirable weedy species into the reclaimed area and will <br /> thus not be required. 12.7 acres were reseeded at the facilities area in 2011. <br /> Revegetation success will be monitored qualitatively through visual observations. <br /> Quantitative sampling shall occur in the 3rd and 6th years after reclamation (2014 and 2017) <br /> for cover, species,production, and woody plant density. <br /> Reclamation success will be determined by comparison with associated reference areas. <br /> Cover in the reclaimed areas will be estimated by the point-intercept method and shall be <br /> deemed acceptable if it is greater or equal to 90% of the cover in the appropriate reference <br /> 26 <br />