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and other revegatation work is well established in the literature. <br />• <br />4. energy Fuels Corporation, whose operation is visible form the Grassy <br />Creek mine, and which does some of the best reclamation work in the west, uses <br />wheatgrass in their seed mixtures with approval by the Division. <br />5. Not enough is known about the behavior of crested wheatgrass when <br />seeded in mixtures with natives. It is fairly well established that since the <br />palatability of crested wheatgrass is lower than for many other grass species, <br />grazing tends to favor crested wheatgrass establishment at the expense of more <br />palatable species which are grazed more heavily. Proper grazing management <br />can reduce this trend. <br />Virtually all published researchy on seeding wheatgrass in mixtures deals with <br />mixtures in which crested wheatgrass is a major constituent of the mix. The <br />mixture proposed in the permit application includes crested wheatgrass as a <br />relatively minor constituent. It is included for the following reasons: <br />• It will help stabilize the soil surface and reduce erosion. <br />° It is well adapted to the soils and climate of the area. <br />° Ic is a reliable germinator. <br />° Its presence will add to the diversity of the reclaimed stand, <br />° It is nutritious as summer fiorage. <br />We believe that the inclusion of this species is warranted for these reasons, <br />and that its inclusion at the seeding rates specified should not, with proper <br />grazing management, precipitate the problem of crested wheatgrass dominance <br />commonly experienced elsewhere. <br />At this time, The Rockcastle Company does not have adequate resources to <br />conduct a full-scale revegatation research or data gathering program, and can- <br />not make such a commitment. <br />• <br />IV-13 <br />12/87 <br />