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2.0-Evaluation afReclamation Success (ar Phase I/I Bond Release <br />POST-MINING LAND USE <br />The post-mining land use for the AVF Reclaimed Area, as stipulated in the pemtit, is irrigated pasture, <br />and rangeland/wildlife habitat on the Rangeland Reclaimed Areas. Pemut No. C-81-013 stipulates that <br />both post-mining land uses have identical reclamation success criteria for vegetative cover and <br />herbaceous production. Species diversity is a success criteria only on the rangeland post-mining land-use. <br />The dominant grass species detected on the AVF Reclaimed Area during the 2005 sampling event is <br />smooth brome. Western wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgmss, and slender wheatgrass also provide a <br />portion of the cover sampled on the AVF Reclaimed Area. Skeletonleaf bursage and alfalfa were the most <br />abundant perennial forbs sampled on the AVF Reclaimed Area. Approximately 12 percent of the relative <br />cover on the AVF Reclaimed Area consists of undesirable species, including field bindweed and yellow <br />sweet clover. By comparison, field bindweed represents more than 18 percent of the relative cover on the <br />AVF Reference Area. <br />The dominant grass species sampled on the Rangeland Reclaimed Area aze smooth brome and western <br />wheatgrass. The species diversity requirement is achieved by these two cool-season grasses, slender <br />wheatgrass, another cool-season grass, and by two warm-season grasses: blue grams and sideoats grams. <br />The species diversity requirement for one perennial fort at greater than 5 percent relative cover is <br />achieved by alfalfa. Overall, nine species of perennial forbs and five shrubs were captured during the <br />sampling event on the Reclaimed Area. <br />A sustainable vegetative community is established on the AVF and Rangeland Reclaimed Areas of the <br />Golden Eagle Mine. The diversity of vegetative species present on the reclaimed azeas provides available <br />forage for domestic livestock and wild ungulates. Basin believes the establishment of a vegetative <br />community dominated by desirable, perennial species, proves that the Reclaimed Areas aze capable of <br />sustaining the approved post-mining land uses. <br />292 -Golden Fagle Phase III (10.07.05) 2-6 <br />