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<br />The area was seeded in October of 1974 with a con- <br />ventional farm grass drill pulled by a farm tractor. The <br />spacing between drill rows was 12 inches and the depth of <br />planting averaged 1/2 inch. Seeding was done when the <br />temperature was sufficiently low enough to prohibit ger- <br />mination of the seeds. Scedii~g was done on the contour to <br />assure rel-ention of water in the drill furrows. <br />9. Fertilization <br />No requirements were placed upon Energy Fuels to <br />conduct a survey of the soil to determine the nutrient <br />content of the soils. This area has not been fertilized by <br />Energy Fuels. <br />5. Management of Reclaimed Area <br />Following the cessation of reseeding and mininc in <br />this .area, all fences were inspected to check for their <br />soundness. A new fence was constructed on the west side of <br />the reclaimed area along Routt County Road 27 to prevent <br />livestock from grazing and vehicles from crossing the area. <br />Sound fences existed on all three remaining sides at Ene=;y <br />D7ine No. 2. The only livestock that utilized the area ~•:ere <br />those that were trailed along the County road and enterer <br />through the mine access roads that remain open to allow she <br />normal mine operation to continue. <br />6. Successfulness of Seeded Stand <br />The species and planting techniques r~commende~ by <br />the Soil Conservation Service resulted in a good initial <br />' establishment of the seeded species. Examination of the <br />area indicates that all seeded species established themselves <br />well. One fact that is evident is that the seeds were rct <br />mixed uniformly and noticeably dominate strips of brome <br />grass run across the slope. These dominate stands of brc-ie <br />grass have had a highly beneficial effect on snow and seed <br />accumulation. This "snow fence effect" has produced hie^.ly <br />desirable stands of native species that have been blown '_nto <br />the area and have become well-established in areas of of tra <br />moisture accumulation. <br />a. Plant Cover <br />Range transects taken in the sununer of 1977 <br />by Energy Fuels reveal that all three of the seeded species <br />have become well-established and have completely stabilized <br />the site. Pre-disturbance vegetative cover was estimated to <br />be 35 percent, while the vegetative cover of the area taken <br />in 1977 during a pronounced drought revealed that total <br />cover of plants and litter amounted to 59.8 percent. In <br />terms of cover, the reclaimed area has a higher plant cover <br />than existed prior to mining. <br />' -rs- <br />