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TAB 20 <br /> REVEGETATION PLAN <br /> Postmining Land Use <br /> Rails to Trails & TAHR <br /> The primary postmining land use is grazing land for livestock. Wildlife habitat is an additional use. In <br /> January of 2020, the Town of Hayden entered a lease with Hayden Gulch Terminal, LLC and Sage Creek Land <br /> & Reserve, LLC for 225 acres of the permitted area for recreational use. In 2022, Routt County confirmed <br /> with a letter of intent (Exhibit 20-3) their intent to take over the Tie Across Haulroad making it an <br /> official County Road. Exhibit 20-1, Post-Mininq Land use, is an updated map that shows the postmininq <br /> land use for these portions of the permitted area. These uses are consistent with current land use in <br /> the area, while integrating long term plans for recreational land use that the town of Hayden has <br /> incorporated into its planning and budget. All reseeded cropland, improved pasture north of Walker <br /> Ditch, and native range areas in and adjacent to the permit area have historically been fenced and <br /> managed for livestock grazing. The vegetation plan has been developed to restore grazing potential on <br /> all reclaimed lands. Appendix 20-1, Postmining Land use and Permanent Features, contains comments from <br /> the landowners of record on the postmining land use. <br /> Wildlife use of the area has not been excluded in the past, however, management of wildlife species has <br /> been centered on managing wildlife populations through harvest (hunting) . Wildlife use will continue to <br /> be unrestricted following reclamation of the facilities. With the exception of where the rail loop <br /> crosses Dry Creek, this important habitat area will not be disturbed. The reclaimed communities will <br /> contain a greater composition of herbaceous species than native undisturbed plant communities, however, <br /> the interspersion of these reclaimed areas with native plant communities will increase edge and <br /> diversify and enhance the habitat. Many wildlife species present in the lower elevations in the spring <br /> will benefit from an early greening and nutritious herbaceous vegetation. In particular, big game in <br /> gestation/lactation cycles will be benefited. The inclusion of tall statured species such as basin <br /> wildrye and fourwing saltbush will provide hiding and nesting cover for small mammals and various avian <br /> species. <br /> Reveqetation <br /> Seedbed Preparation. Following redistribution of topsoil, seedbed preparation will be initiated. <br /> Redistributed topsoil will be monitored for excessive compaction. Any areas deemed to be excessively <br /> compacted will be deep ripped. Final seedbed preparation for all ripped and non-ripped topsoil will <br /> consist of disking. Additional disking operations may be used to control annual weedy vegetation prior <br /> to permanent seeding operations. All operations will be maintained on the contour where practicable. <br /> TR-13 1 Revised 01/23 <br />