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<br />35 <br />` ~ dependent to a large degree on the intensity of grating. Heavy grazing will terra <br />' t0 accelerate the dC>mi*+~TM~ of big sagebni~h while light or moderate grazing will <br />pmoote greater herbacew.s growth an3 more grand cover. <br />r Reclamation Failure <br />sure the su~ of alternative sediment control mea~+,,,~ on reclaimed <br />lands is dependent to a significant degree on vegetation cover, the question of <br />reclamation failure must be addressed. If reclamation failed at the Hain Mine <br />it would fail as a result of extreme climatic conditions in combination with <br />;^-=+~rrnr grazing management. soil toxicity problems do not exist at the mine and <br />the species that are being seeded are long-lived aryl well adapted to the site <br />oonditians. In addition, it is highly unlikely that other factors (e.g. a;eawca <br />or insect infestation) wand resR~lt in failure other than climate. However, it <br />is doubtful that even extreme climatic changes will result in vegetation failure. <br />During the past 750 years there have been 21 drax~ts in the Great Plains <br />states that have lasted 5 years or longer (Weakly, 1962). Eight of these <br />dr+axgtrts averaged 21 years and one of them lasted 38 years. However, even during <br />the worst periods of drux3ht, native vegetation that was not over utilized or <br />abused by man was able to ma;.,rw;,, itself with score c3~anges in structure and <br />prahrction (Weaver, 1954). Fbr example, during periods of prolonged drought <br />there have been shifts fr® tall c~,ra+s~oc to short grasses, a reduCtiOlr In shallow <br />rooked for3~s, and a reduction of one plant association and replacement with more <br />xeric ones. 'These changes have not resulted in vegetation failure and following <br />long periods of draix3ht, nature is prtimq~t in repairirx3 damages that occur aryl <br />vegetation quickly recovers to conditions prior to the drax~rt years (Weaver. <br />1954). <br />