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1 <br />EVALUATION OF RECLAMATION SUCCESS FOR <br />PHASE II BOND RELEASE <br />The requirements for Phase II bond release are replacement of topsoil according to the approved <br />topsoil replacement plan, successful establishment of a diverse and permanent vegetative cover <br />as described in the reclamation plan, and control of erosion from the reclaimed area (CDMG <br />' 1986). Achievement of the requisites was documented by replacing the topsoil to the pre-mining <br />depth over the reclaimed area, surveying the established vegetation cover and species composition, <br />and demonstrating that the reclaimed area is not contributing suspended solids to streamflow or <br />' runoff outride the permit area in excess of pre-mining levels. Each condition and its supporting <br />documentation are discussed in the following sections. <br />' TOPSOIL REPLACEMENT <br />' Kaiser completed topsoil replacement according to the redistribution plan. Depth of topsoil was <br />documented during a field survey conducted on March 18, 1993. Results are shown on Table 2. <br />' VEGETATIVE COVER <br />' Since the 1989 reclamation work was completed, Kaiser has allowed the reclaimed vegetative <br />community to develop and mature. [n 1994, a deficiency of warm-season grasses on the <br />reclaimed area was identified. Kaiser has implemented a controlled grazing program (MR-06) <br />' during the spring of 1995 and 1996 to assist in warm-season grass development. This program <br />appears to have been successful No other management practices have been implemented at the <br />site. <br />' Vegetation on the reclaimed and reference areas was systematically sampled on July 22, 1996. <br />Both vegetative cover and species composition were evaluated. Mean absolute vegetative cover <br />' on the reference area is 1.5 percent higher than on the reclaimed azea (14.6 vs. 13.1 percent). <br />This is within the 90 percent required for Phase [I release. Analysis of species present on the two <br />areas indicates each is dominated primarily by perennial grasses and to a lesser extent by perennial <br />' forbs. Shrubs and annual forbs and grasses comprised 5.3 and 0.5 percent, respectively, of the <br />relative cover in the reference area and 0.8 and 4.6 percent of the disturbed area, respectively. <br />' The species diversity criterion was specified by the CDMG during permitting. This criterion <br />states that Kaiser must establish two perennial cool season grasses and two perennial forbs with <br />' at least 3% but less than 40% relative cover, and any combination of perennial warm-season <br />grasses with at least 6% relative cover and no upper limit. Discussion of these species diversity <br />criterion is provided in Appendix 1. <br />t The results of the 1996 survey indicate a permanent and relatively diverse vegetation cover is <br />becoming established on the reclaimed area at CCM ryl. With the establishment of perennial cool- <br />' <br />t bgtl.05]~09.1996~Sapiambar U, 1996 4 <br />