REV12716

• Permit No: C1981047
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 8/28/1992
• Doc Name: BLUE RIBBON MINE PN C-81-047 PERMIT RENEWAL VEGETATION REVIEW
• From: MLRD
• To: CHRISTINE JOHNSTON
• Type & Sequence: RN2
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COt,UKAllU
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver. CO 80203
303 8663567
Fax [phone]
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Roy Romer.
Governor
Michael B. Long,
Drv~sion Director
DATE: August 28, 1992
TO: Christine Johnston
FROM: Steve Shue~
RE: Blue Ribbon Mine, Permit No. C-81-047, Permit Renewal Vegetation Review
I have reviewed the vegetation and reclamation portions of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit as
well as their vegetation monitoring reports and annual reclamation reports. The following
concerns were identified upon review of these documents.
Vegetation
As you know, I have already reviewed and commented on the vegetation monitoring report
for Blue Ribbon Mine 1 submitted February 18, 1992. Upon further review it was noted
that Yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) was included in reclamation success
standards calculations. As this is not a perennial herbaceous species, it cannot be
included in these figures. Rule 4.15.1(1) states that reestablished vegetation must be
permanent. Biennial and annual plants cannot be considered permanent. In addition, the
competition from the sweetclover is probably the main cause for the lack of cool season
bunch grasses which are required to meet the species diversity success standards.
In the interest of killing two birds with one stone my recommendation on the grassland
areas and east riparian area is this:
1) With a weed whip or similar device cut back the yellow sweetclover in the
fall just after seed heads are well established and remove the severed plants.
2) Inter-seed these areas that same fall with cool season bunchgrasses and
perennial fortis that will aid in establishing a vegetative community that will
meet the species diversity standard for reclamation success. Some
suggested species for this mix include:
Grasses: Timothy (Phleum pretense)
Arizona Fescue (Festuca arizonica)
Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum)
Basin Wild rye (Elymus cinereas)