Laserfiche WebLink
8hldlife Upland Reference Area-Cover. Praducoon, and Noodr Slem DenslM1' <br />• besides the dominant blue grama, comprise 7.8 percent of the relative cover, with the cool-season <br />grasses representing 9.3 percent of the relative cover. Relative forb and shrub cover equals 20.6 and <br />19.5 percent, respectively. <br />Analysis of the species diversity data from the two areas shows that the new reference azea has a <br />more balanced composition of grass species than the old reference area. A slightly higher absolute <br />cover value by forbs and shrubs also makes the new area more desirable for reclamation comparison <br />when considering that the post-mining land use is wildlife habitat. <br />3.2 Herbaceous Production <br />Total herbaceous production in the new upland wildlife reference area averaged 476.64 pounds/acre. <br />Of this total, grasses accounted for 64.9 percent (309.09 pounds/acre) and forbs the remaining 35.1 <br />percent (167.54 pounds/acre). Table 3 presents the data collected during the 1999 sampling event. <br />Table 4 compares the data collected in 1984 with the 1999 data. Total herbaceous production is <br />estimated to be 133 percent higher on the new reference area than on the old reference area, which <br />makes the reclamation standard forproduction more stringent than the previous standard would have <br />set. This is primazily due to the abundance of blue grama, which typically exhibits low production <br />values, formerly occupying the old reference area. The new upland wildlife reference area has less <br />areal coverage by blue grama and more by forbs, which account for a majority of the increase in [he <br />• herbaceous production mean <br />3.3 Woody Stem Density <br />An estimate of the current woody stem density on the new reference area was measured during the <br />1999 sampling event. Table 5 displays the data collected within the 15 plots taken along the cover <br />transects. Approximately 6,000 woody stems per acre occupy the site, with silver sage composing <br />86.9 percent of the stems tallied. The woody stem standard set by Colorado Division of Minerals <br />and Geology for the New Elk Mine is 1,000 stems per acre. <br />4.0 CONCLUSION --- <br />The ecological condition of the former upland wildlife reference area has deteriorated severely for <br />unknown reasons not associated with any mis-management on behalf of Picketwire. Anew <br />reference area is needed for the future reclamation activities to be conducted at the New Elk Mine. <br />The site selected for establishment of the new reference is the best possible parcel of land that access <br />could be secured upon. While smaller than the old area, the new reference azea represents a native <br />ecological community in good condition. Although the total plant cover is lesson the new area in <br />comparison to the 1984 data, a more balanced distribution of the frequency of plant species on the <br />new reference area better represents the species diversity standard for reclamation stipulated in the <br />operating permit. Herbaceous production is higher than on the old area, which will help ensure that <br />• the reclaimed areas are better suited to their post-mining land use of wildlife forage. Overall, the <br />new upland wildlife reference azea compares favorably to the old reference area for comparison of <br />reclamation success. <br />Cuver Produn~on Denairy - Erb I5-fi26W ovember 5. lop9 <br />