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<br />~l - ~ ~~ <br /> <br /> <br />DEPARTtv1ENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />Davitl H. Gziches, E.ecuove Dkector <br />MIND LAND RECLAMATION DI1 <br />DAVID C. SHELTO N, Director <br />Decemb=_r 7, 1433 <br />h1r. James L. Clark <br />Elam Construction, Inc. <br />1225 So. 7th Street <br />Grand Junction, Colorado 31501 <br />P,e: Grass Species that Should be Adaptable to the Grand Junction, <br />Colorado Area <br />Dear Operator: <br />During a NGVeaber, 1983 inspection of the Grand Junction area, a number <br />of operators expressed concern over the problem of establishing a diverse <br />grass stand given the severity of the local environment. Assistance ~•+as <br />requested from the Division of Mined Land Reclamation to identify <br />adaptable species to the al<aline soils of the Grand Junction area. <br />i•Ir. Peter O'Connor, reclamation specialist, revie~rred a number of <br />publications and identified the following grass species that should be <br />adaptable to the lo~.+ precipitation, alkaline soils of the Grand Junction <br />area. <br />A. Plative Grass Species <br />1. Alkali sacaton: Perennial bunchgrass, with poor to fair ease <br />of establisnment, that is found naturally on alkali flats. The <br />plant is best suited for clayey textures and not adapted to sandy <br />soils. <br />2. basin wildrye: Pa rennial bunchgrass that is moderately easy <br />to establish aaapted to medium to clayey soils but not adapted to <br />sandy soils. This species is commonly found on alkali soils. <br />3. Galleta: Perennial mid grass that is adapted to all soil <br />types. The grass is tolerant of moderately alkaline soils and can <br />survive in areas with precipitation down to 3.1 inches{year. <br />4. Indian ricegrass: Perennial bunchgrass with a low germination <br />rate causing this species to be classified by many as "difficult to <br />establish". This grass gro~:+s best on sandy and silty textured <br />soils that are weakly alkaline. Indian ricegrass is commonly found <br />in deserts ~nith precipitation of o inches/year. <br />F~cnartl D. Lamm <br />Governor <br />423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. (303) 866.3567 <br />