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III ~II~I~~II~~II~II STATE OF COLORADO MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION Department of Natural Resources ~~ ~~p> [x 1313 Sherman S;.. Room 215 ~;, 4 Denver. C080203 ^" • f 303 866-3567 ~.~` ': ~e ve Fqx 303 832~6t06 qoy Fore, Govcrra F reo R Bama DIVISIM Drtrtor DATE: April 30, 1990 T0: Matt Hayes A - FROM: Carl Mount~~ RE: 1990 Yegetation Sampling on Peabody Coal Company Mines: Seneca II, Nucla Seneca II 1. Areas which should be sampled first are the ones that had topsoil replaced and were revegetated in 1985. See the chronological topsoil replacement map for locations. 2. Other areas may also be sampled as time and resources permit. Areas revegetated in 1986 should receive next priority; then areas revegetated prior to 1985. Thus, if a problem is identified in 1985 or 1986 areas, we can alert Peabody of the problem and they can correct it within the first five year period of bond responsibility if they so choose. I would suggest combining information by year. Otherwise, the data gathering and number crunching may get too involved. Interim law areas are generally those areas to the north of topsoil replacement areas. These areas may need to be sampled this year depending on whether Peabody asks for bond and/or reclamation liability release. If they do, a combined soils/vegetation sampling trip may be necessary since same of these areas are old "Wolf Creek" Pits and thus have acid spoil problems which profoundly affect vegetation growth. 4. Peabody is already performing a comparison of grazed versus non-grazed areas and will submit preliminary results of their comparisons in the 1989 Revegetation Monitoring Report. They believe that grazing pressure will lead to decreases in the alfalfa component of the vegetation stand and subsequent increases in woody plant density (notably, undesirable increasers such as sagebrush and Wood's rose). We may want to determine when they are going to sample and try to sample at approximately the same time in order to verify their results. 5. Peabody wishes to change its Mountain Shrub reference area this year from its present location to a location in unmined Wolf Creek area near Haul Road F. A comparison of these areas should be done to verify Peabody sampling this year.