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• Generally, it has been found that after the first growing season on a reclaimed area, the herbaceous vegetation has developed to a point which precludes the planting of shrub seedlings (containerized and bare root) due to the competition for moisture. Hand shovels and/or augers will be used to transplant these species. Planting during these periods results in minimal damage to the seeded vegetation and lessens the potential mortality that can be expected when seedlings are transplanted into herbaceous stands having a more developed root system. Transplanting of mature shrubs will be accomplished by the use of a front-end loader or other suitable equipment. The depth of sod to be transplanted will vary with the species being transplanted and will range between 12 and 36 inches. Soon after the transplant operation has been completed, topsoil will then be distributed over the remaining regraded areas between clumps. The topsoil will be distributed so as to blend with the shrub transplant area to ensure a uniform reclaimed surface around the transplants. The remaining reclamation practices will then be • implemented on the topsoil areas. Mulching Techniques During the initial permit review process, Colowyo proposed that on slopes flatter than 4h:ly that rather than utilize a hay mulch, a stubble mulch or no mulch be used on reclaimed areas. The use of mulch on these relatively flat slopes was of no value towards reclamation at the Colowyo site. The application of mulch had become a very expensive, time consuming process which, in fact, produced additional problems on the reclaimed areas, rather than solving an assumed erosion problem that can be solved by other methods. The added flexibility of eliminating the use of any mulch greatly enhances the germination of seeds early in the spring given the moisture and soil temperature conditions found at the Colowyo site. Mulches tend to shade the soil, thus slowing the rise in soil • 2.05-54