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. . iii iuiiiiiiiiiiiiii • • <br />Release Standard for Base Revegetation -Snyder Quarry <br />Basic Considerations: The fundamental goal of revegetation is "... to establish a diverse, <br />effective, and long-lasting vegetative cover that is capable of self=regeneration..." This goal, <br />by interpretation of the law, must be consistent with the "subsequent beneficial use" selected <br />and described in the reclamation plan. Where revegetation is a major part of the reclamation <br />plan, this must be achieved before the bond can be released. The intent of this release standard <br />plan is to define that standard for these sites, describe and define the terms used in describing <br />the vegetation, and develop the methodology by which the vegetation will be examined to <br />determine whether the standard has been achieved. <br />A release standard could be just a statement of one or more vegetation description <br />quantities. Because such quantities can be viewed in many different ways, simply stating a <br />quantity is ambiguous. <br />Quantities need to be defined beforehand and the methods for measuring those <br />quantities determined. For example, assume the standard is based on cover. What does that <br />really mean? Is it total cover, living cover, duff plus living cover, aerial cover, basal area, or <br />something else'? Furthermore, the method used to measure the value can cause variations in the <br />values produced. Cover values measured with a point frame may not be the same as those <br />measured using a line intercept. Even with the point frame, because a pin has a discrete <br />dimension the true cover is often overestimated and variations in pin diameters will produce <br />different results. Therefore, a release standard must include the theory behind the <br />developmental processes (as it pertains to these sites), definitions of terms and values to be <br />measured, and the methods to be used in measuring the vegetation that develops on the site. <br />Purpose of a Release Standard: <br />... ~y~- <br />¶ The release standard will be applied to Base Reclamation only. ~ hos(=~"'ti"~' <br />¶ The standard deFines Castle's obligations under the permit. I \~, uS~ <br />¶ The standard allows a differentiation between Base and Enhanced Reclamation. 1 <br />Base Reclamation shall be defined as that reclamation required to control <br />degrading environmental influences (erosion, instability, etc.). <br />Enhanced Reclamation shall be defined as that reclamation required to improve <br />the visual effect of the Base Reclamation. It is not subject to the standard, but must, where <br />implemented, be considered as a contributing element in achieving the standard. <br />Developmental Theory: <br />¶ Total vegetation structure is determined by an interaction between the tolerance <br />curves of each species with respect to the physical and biotic environment of the site. <br />¶ The vegetation will expand until a limit is reached with respect to the characteristics <br />of each species present in that vegetation. <br />Release Standard -Snyder Quarry Page 1 <br />