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60 <br /> <br />with a community less stable to grazing and climatic impacts. The topsoiled <br />treatment (Treatment 3) demonstrated mediocre plant performance. Its poor <br />showing steps from an abundance of old plant residue that may have retarded <br />this year's growth. This stubble is the aftermath of a large annual weed <br />population that dominated this treatment the first two years following its <br />construction. Annuals are strong competitors and greatly restrict perennial <br />growth in early successional stages. At present, the seeded species are <br />beginning to populate the treatment but at a lower level of biomass, cover, <br />and density than occurs on Treatments 1 and 2. In general, reclaiming areas <br />with a slope of less than 3:1 should present few limitations provided <br />fertilizer and mulch are used. <br />Vegetation success of the 1.5:1 plot was poor as compared with the Main <br /> <br />Plot and the 3:1 Slope Plot. The failure of vegetation here is a product of <br />erosion beneath the mulching materials, slumping, less infiltration, and a <br />higher heat load due to slope. <br />Reclaiming steep areas at the Allen Mine is discouraged unless new <br />measures are devised to cope with existing problems. By virtue of the dis- <br />turbed area's location in a broad, wide valley, it will be easy to grade the <br />spoils so that no area exceeds a 3:1 incline. While initial contouring costs <br />may be high, the long-term maintenance expenses and impact of sediment on the <br />Purgatoire River will be minimal. <br />Finally, on sloping and level areas surface manipulations such as <br />pitting and furrows may oe substituted for mulching. The relative law cost, <br />ability to catch water, and elimination of rodent problems associated with <br />mulch may make surface manipulations attractive considerations in future <br />revegetation programs. <br />.` <br />