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<br />Productivity data collected during the 1998 Area 41 sampling event details the reclaimed <br />community composition. Perennial grasses comprise 70.41 % of the relative production. Perennial <br />grass production was attributed to 13 species. Comparison with cover data shows Smooth brome <br />(Bromus inermis) as only contributing 29.4% relative cover. Alfalfa made up 12.17% relative <br />production, with 13.99% relative production composed of perennial fortis (other than alfalfa). No <br />annual, biennial or noxious species were recorded in the 1998 Area 41 productivity sampling. <br />Woodv Plant DensitX <br />The approved post-mining land-use is pastureland. There is no woody plant establishment <br />requirement on the reclaimed lands. <br />Post-Mining Land Use <br />The approved post-mining land use for the Ecktnan Pazk Mine and Energy Mine No. 1 area is <br />pastureland. The operator has been running a cattle operation on these reclaimed areas for a <br />number of years. The absence of excess erosional features and the annual vegetative recovery <br />indicates the reclaimed area is capable of supporting pastureland grazing use. CYCC provided <br />livestock stocking rates for the past three years. In 1998, five hundred head of cattle were run on <br />the reclaimed mine site. Four hundred head were grazed on the reclaimed area in 1999. CYCC <br />ran five hundred seven head on the mine site in 2000. The Division has observed that came are <br />generally brought on to the site in late June or eazly July. Grazing generally continues through the <br />summer until eazly September. This schedule may vary depending on management goals for the <br />animals, or if vegetative sampling is planned on the mine azea. <br />The reclaimed plant community supports the postmining land use of pastureland. In the Area 41 <br />1947 sampling event, sixteen perennial grass species were identified, twelve perennial (non- <br />noxious) forb species, and five shrub species. Only three noxious species were measured in low <br />proportion at 2.9% relative cover. Only one annual grass species, Bromus teclorrrm <br />(Cheatgrass),was measured with less than 0.1% relative cover. Only seven annual or biennial forb <br />species were measured. The noxious, annual or biennial species accounted for only 5.46% of the <br />total vegetative composition. None of the species encountered in Area 41 during the 1997 <br />sampling event are toxic to livestock. <br />CYCC has numerous stockwater ponds constructed in reclaimed drainages throughout the <br />reclaimed mine area. The stockponds are constructed in accordance with CRS 35-49-107(2) <br />(permit page 780-211(6)), and support the post-mining land-use of pasture by retaining water for <br />livestock throughout the reclaimed azea. CYCC has provided "as-built" certifications of the <br />permanent stockwater ponds. <br />HvdroloQic Impacts <br />In accordance with Rule 3.03.2(2), the Division is required to make an evaluation of whether <br />pollution of surface and subsurface waters is occurring, the probability of future occurrence of <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Company': SL07 Findings I1/00 paee 9 c'\jhb\C081071\SL07(nd.doc <br />