Laserfiche WebLink
Qualitative evaluations will consist of visual observations of newly seeded areas in order to evaluate I' <br />• seeding success, monitor for excessive rilling and gullying, determine the success of applied <br />reclamation practices, identify potential noxious weed problems, and estimate the degree of species <br />establishment through natural regeneration. Qualitative evaluations may extend past the first several <br />years for areas of new rill and gully repair, areas of noxious weed control, areas requiring restricted <br />interseeding or reseeding, or areas that have been planted to trees and shrubs. <br />As stated above, monitoring through quantitative measurements will be carried out periodically on <br />revegetated areas at the Seneca II-W Mine. Revegetation monitoring of a given area of reclamation <br />will be identified by year of initial seeding, and conducted during the second or third growing season, <br />and periodically thereafter )every 2-4 years) until bond is released. Reference area sampling may be <br />conducted coincidentally with revegetation monitoring. For purposes of this discussion, quantitative <br />sampling during the last two consecutive years of the extended liability period is not considered as <br />monitoring. The data and results from the quantitative monitoring program will be provided to the <br />Division by March 30 of the following year as part of the Annual Reclamation Report. <br />The following discussion details parameters to be sampled, sampling methodologies, and sampling <br />intensity for the revegetation monitoring program. <br />• <br />Sampling Parameters <br />Cover. Cover data will include cover by species (both absolute and relative values), total vegetative <br />cover, and cover values for litter, rock, and bare ground. Mosses and lichens will be included, if <br />present. <br />Production. Production data will be collected as total herbaceous current years' biomass. In some <br />cases where additional information is desired, production will be collected by herbaceous growth <br />forms. Shrub production will not be collected. Values will be in g/m' and Ibs/ac. <br />Woody Plant Densities. The density of shrubs and trees by species per unit area in reclaimed areas <br />will be estimated. Shrub and tree establishment areas will be delineated and sampled separately from <br />the general reclaimed units. Values will be presented in #/plot and #/ac. Unless the need arises, no <br />sampling of woody plant densities in reference areas will be conducted since the performance <br />standards are not directly related to existing conditions. <br />• Species List. A list of all species observed during sampling will be developed. Common <br />names will be included, as will lifeform, origin, and longevity. The initial species list will be <br />upgraded in subsequent monitoring efforts. <br />35 Revised 2/79/99 <br />