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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br /> »qw.e.,.• ;>.,. ,w.-a,rw s.a...,a ,nw v,. . N .. .. .. .m^r.m4a.^,r.�;.c;,+.•Ya4-'....:.4t...7.>;..+_a»• . �M.v+: .a`�.r•.�;;rt .r,>.:3^F'�N�'.. >.. <br /> Revegetation will specifically target livestock grazing and sage grouse brood rearing habitat. Both of <br /> these, in combination, are the two primary components of the joint Post-mining Rangeland/Fish and <br /> Wildlife Habitat Land Use. Collom mining areas designed to target livestock grazing (with benefits to <br /> wildlife populations) will comprise approximately 60% to 80% of the reclaimed landscapes. These areas <br /> will principally occupy more steeply sloping ground(>10%)where the grassland community is necessary <br /> to preclude excessive erosion, especially from snowmelt. Based on evaluation of the post-mining <br /> topography, the remaining approximately 41% (Map 44) of the reclaimed landscape will afford flat or <br /> gently sloping surfaces (<10%) with reduced exposure to erosion. It is on the majority of these less <br /> exposed more gentle slopes whereby development of wildlife conducive habitats (sagebrush steppe) can <br /> be attempted (only on larger blocks of land - e.g., >5 acres) without overly compromising stability. In <br /> this regard, sagebrush communities targeting sage grouse brood-rearing habitat will be attempted in <br /> earnest on approximately 30% (or more)of the Collom mining area reclaimed landscape, with the goal of <br /> achieving success on at least one-half of this acreage or as otherwise agreed upon between Colowyo and <br /> the Division (Please see Map 44 for specific areas for the sagebrush steppe and grassland plant <br /> communitites). <br /> The principal basis of PERA is to rebuild the foundation conditions of target vegetation communities <br /> taking into account the appropriate aspects, slopes, and topographic features of the reclaimed landscape. <br /> In this manner, targeted communities, as opposed to more simple grasslands will be more strongly <br /> encouraged. Potential reclamation techniques to be applied to facilitate the targeting of sagebrush <br /> communities include, but are not limited to: 1) taking advantage of site-specific opportunities for <br /> development of convex and concave surfaces to encourage snow entrapment; 2) development of small <br /> berms along the contour and somewhat perpendicular to prevailing winds, also to encourage snow <br /> entrapment; 3) use of native species; 4) severe reduction of grasses in the seed mix; 5) use of only bunch <br /> grasses for those taxa planted with sagebrush; 6) sharp increases in the amount of sagebrush seed to be <br /> used; 7) extra care to obtain the correct subspecies of sagebrush(vaseyana pauciflora)with a seed source <br /> as close as possible to the Axial Basin; 8) extra care to place seed at the ideal time of year (immediately <br /> prior to the first major snowfall event; 9)placement of thin layers of topsoil over overburden; 10)possible <br /> placement of zero topsoil; 11) possible placement of thin layers of overburden over topsoil; 12) use of <br /> specialized seed placement equipment to obtain correct planting depths; 13) use of seedbed preparation <br /> equipment and techniques to encourage sagebrush emergence; and 14) interseeding of additional grasses <br /> and/or forbs (only where necessary) following a period of 2 —3 years of growth by shrubs. All of these <br /> possible techniques/metrics are designed to diminish the competitive advantage of grasses, at least in the <br /> early stages of establishment and growth. The primary"foundation-building"element for this approach is <br /> the ability to replace variable topsoil depths and/or quality of soil materials depending on site-specific <br /> needs,the discretion of the field construction supervisor, and the capabilities(or lack thereof)of available <br /> materials and equipment. <br /> In summary, application of PERA on "shrub-favorable areas" would be based on the community <br /> development contributory factors of: 1) soil quantity,quality, and replacement depth; 2)aspect, slope, and <br /> landform; 3)documented and expected performance of various floral species; 4)revegetation metrics; and <br /> 5)the target post-mining land use. In this manner,reclamation and resultant developing communities will <br /> be encouraged to follow a more natural path to maturation and successional progression as opposed to <br /> more historically utilized grassland favorable approaches that should only be applied to the remaining <br /> 60% to 80% of reclaimed ground (sloping areas). However, there will likely be instances, if not an <br /> overall need, to incorporate managerial practices to encourage or protect positive recruitment to the shrub <br /> populations. Such management may include the following steps: <br /> Use of elevated quantities of sagebrush seed within the grassland target areas, and placement of that seed <br /> in a manner to encourage sagebrush emergence. <br /> Collom—Rule 4,Page 25 Revision Date: 12/20/19 <br /> Revision No.: TR-135 <br />