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C <br />C <br />• <br />Colowyo did not feel comfortable using such a complicated [ndex, but did so because it was <br />the norm at the time to use this method. <br />Since the initial Permit Application, the CMLIZD regulations have been revised to allow for <br />the use of comparisons of species composition based on cover between the reclaimed area <br />and the undisturbed vegetation. <br />This method of analyzing diversity was applied to the weighted premine vegetation cover <br />data originally sampled and summarized in Section 2.04.10 on Table 2, 1980 Herbaceous <br />Cover by Species. The percent contribution to diversity by each species contained within the <br />predominate vegetation communities, sagebrush and mountain shrub is weighted by acres <br />and summarized on the revised Table 7, Premine Species Diversity. <br />A total of four species with a combined contribution to diversity of 43.4% have been chosen <br />to characterize the premine vegetative community diversity standard. <br />The vegetative species with their contribution to diversity are as follows: <br />Species <br />(]) Poapratenensis <br />(2) Agropyron Smithii <br />(3) Achillea lanulosa <br />(4) Stina virdiula <br />Contribution to Diversity <br />22.6% <br />10.8% <br />6.7% <br />3.3% <br />43.4% <br />Although Gallium and Lu inus caudatus rank reasonably well in the diversity scale, they are <br />not included in the diversity goals for reclamation. Gallium is an annual, while Lupines <br />caudatus is considered toxic to livestock and is most likely a product of overgrazing. <br />Colowyo is interested in reclaiming with vegetation species with equal or superior utility for <br />the postmining land use when compared with the utility of the naturally occurring premine <br />vegetation. Neither species provides any utility towards supporting the premining land use. <br />Three of the species are perennial cool season greases and one specie is a perennial forb. All <br />of the species are found throughout the premine area on all soil types and moisture regimes. <br />The grass species all provide the qualities for excellent erosion stock use. All four species of <br />vegetation exhibit high utility towards the premine land use. <br />It is important to note that the species exhibiting the greatest contribution to the premine <br />vegetative diversity is the Kentucky Bluegrass, Poa pratensis, which is not considered a <br />native. It <br />4.15-17 <br />