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The following plan/technique for tree and shrub reestablishment was suggested by Dr. David Buckner and is directed toward the successful establishment of individual aspen trees in select reclamation locations for the purpose of facilitating the eventual clonal spread of those aspen individuals and the return of that vegetation type to the reclaimed landscapes. Like many aspects of the return of woody plants to reclaimed areas in Routt and Moffat Counties, the reestablishment of aspen is a goal that, at best, will be achieved over the long term. Like certain of the other prominent woody species in the pre- mining landscapes (especially Gambel's oak) the heart of the presence of aspen in apre-mining landscape is the immense bulk of the underground parts of the individual clones. The progression from time zero on a geologically "renewed° landscape to mature aspen clones has never been observed over its full course and so no one really knows what the conditions of establishment and the rates of growth toward the eventual mature clone are. All SCC can do is provide the setting in which we think the tree or shrub in question may eventually, given favorable climatic conditions, lead to expanding clonal growth. In the short term, we need to give the "mother -plants" that we seek to establish, acos[- efficient but effective boost and adequate protection from as many as possible of the environmental stresses that we know exist in reclaimed areas. Suitable re-establishment sites would be those that are concave (i.e. "low-lying"1 and can be expected to accumulate moisture las well as soil) in the pattern typical of nearly all terrestrial landscapes. It is proposed to endow these select sites with "over-thickened" topsoil, as is so often the nature of natural locations of vigorous aspen growth. Of course "low-lying" sites along drainages with extensive watershed above are probably not good candidates because of the risk of soil loss. Places in drainage headwaters with gentle side slopes have been selected. It is believed that the best approach here would be to use '/, to 1 y, inch caliper aspen and plant them very deep, that is place the root ball as it comes from the nursery at a depth of five to six feet. The intent of this seeming inappropdately deep planting is to place the roots in contact with moisture that is stable and predictable. Members of the genus Popu/us have the capacity to root adventitiously following deep burial. Through their evolution, this has not been a response to deep planting but rather the arrival of deep deposits of soil, gravel or sand around them during flood events. Dr. Buckner has used this technique with narrowleaf cottonwood (Popu/us angustifo/ia) with great success. These would be watered well at the time of planting and three or four times during the first growing season. Four square yards of landscape fabric would be placed around the base of each tree and wood chips placed on top of that. Cages of 2" x 4" 12 gauge welded wire 72 inches tall would be placed around each and anchored with three t-posts The Division discussed this proposed "mother plant" concept with Dr. Wayne Shepperd of the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Dr. Shepperd is a recognized authority on aspen regeneration and management, and was author or co-author of the papers referenced in the initial adequacy letter. Dr. Shepperd stated that he felt the primary limiting factors with respect to establishing aspen plantings on mined areas were insufficient moisture for establishment and excessive browsing. He indicated that it was almost certainly the case that most native aspen cones were PR03 23 Revised 11/02