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<br />This study was carried out in order to document the amount and composition of woody <br />plant regeneration occurring on reclaimed lands at Seneca Coals, Ltd: s Seneca II Mine <br />near Hayden, Colorado. <br />Study Area <br />The Seneca II Mine is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Hoyden, Colorado. <br />Elevations range from 6700 feet on the west edge of the mine property to 8000 feet on <br />the east side. Precipitation is intermediate between the average annua{ of 16.1 inches <br />recorded at Hayden and the average annual of 19.6 inches recorded at Pyramid, located <br />approximately ten miles south-southeast of the mine. Precipitation data specific to the <br />mine site is not available at this time. <br />Two vegetation types and one subtype have been identified at the Seneca II Mine: the <br />sagebrush grassland type, the mixed brush type, and a minor aspen subtype. The mixed <br />brush type is the most extensive on the study area and is dominated by a shrub overstory <br />of Gambel oak (Quercus ag mbelii), common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), and saska- <br />toon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). The understory is a mix of herbaceous species, <br />big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), and mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreo- <br />hp ilus). Shrub densities in the premine mixed brush type are 8238 stems/ha. The sage- <br />brush grassland type accounts for nearly all of the remaining vegetation on the study <br />area. While big sagebrush, mountain snowberry, and Douglas rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus <br />yiscidiflorus) are common, the herbaceous component accounts for a large percentage of <br />the vegetative cover. Shrub densities in this type Overage 3908 stems/ha. <br />Soils on the study area have developed from parent material consisting of interbedded <br />shales and sandstones. Soils are generally loamy in nature and quite fertile. The moder- <br />ately deep loamy soils which have developed on north to northeast facing slopes and high <br />ridges are favorable to the mixed brush vegetation type. Small amounts of aspen occur <br />on moderately deep to deep silt loam and silty clay loam soils on high north facing slopes, <br />in drainages, or on concave sideslopes. A combination of the mixed brush and sagebrush <br />grassland communities occur on shallow to moderately deep loamy soils of lower ridges <br />and other higher south and southwest facing slopes. Stands of herbaceous vegetation with <br />little or no shrubs dominate on very shallow loamy soils, shale exposures, and dense <br />clays. Sagebrush stands also dominate on the dense clay soils. <br />-2- <br />