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Mowry - TR 5 Somerset - 3 - November 5, 1987 broadcast seeded at 40 pounds per acre may be excessive, the proposed seed mixture (8 grasses, 5 forbs, and 3 shrubs at 16 pounds per acre broadcast rate) does not appear adequate especially due to the heavy seeding rate for western and slender wheatgrasses and Indian ricegrass (4.1, 3.1 and 3.5, respectively) in relation to the exceedingly low rate for the forbs and shrubs (0.5 and 0.3, respectively). The operator is hoping that ". an acceptable percentage of shrubs should be established by a combination of seeding and natural infiltration." Two of the re vegetation success criteria that must be met to obtain final bond release are species diversity and woody plant density. The proposed seed mixture will have an exceedingly difficult time achieving these two parameters. I would concur with a new seed mixture only if the following modifications are made. a. The seeding rate for the above referenced grasses must be reduced. b. The seeding rate for the forbs and shrubs must be increased. c. The number of shrub species must be increased. 5. "Section 2.4 Mulching" proposes increasing the mulching rate from 3,000 pounds per acre to 4,000 pounds per acre. I have no problem with this proposed change. 6. "Section 2.7 Shrub and Tree Planting" proposes a change from transplanting containerized or bare root stock to no planting at all unless future inventorying identifies a woody plant deficiency. Tne two communities being reclaimed are mountain shrvbland and juniper woodland with a total reclamation area of about 57 acres. I do not concur with the proposed change and believe the planting rate specified in the approved plan should be maintained. 7. "Section 2.8 Control of Weeds" proposes a change in controlling weeds from a herbicide control to mowing. Since the submittal of the original revegetation plan, research has begun to show that maybe the weedy component is not as much a problem as everyone once believed. While it is true that weeds utilize soil moisture, it has been shown that this use is off-set by the benefit they provide of stabilizing the surface. The planted species will begin to out compete the weeds because of their deeper root penetration. Also, a majority of the proposed species are cool-season which will compete with the weeds much better than warm-season species. As the planted species become better developed, they crowd out the weedy species thus maintaining soil stability. This process will usually take a year or two to