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Since the 1800s, cattle have grazed in Northwestern Colorado. More recently range scientists realized <br />the complex relationships between grazing animals and the environment. Peabody Western's scientists <br />have studied this relationship since 1988 through a managed grazing program on reclaimed land at <br />Seneca II Mine (Photo 11. The results show a direct positive relationship between good grazing <br />practices and achieving the reclamation goals. <br />Seneca II Mine, owned and operated by Peabody Western Coal Company, is located about seven miles <br />southeast of Hayden, Colorado. The mine is located in the mountain shrub zone at elevations ranging <br />from 7000 to 8000 feet (Photo 21. Since 1976, Seneca II Mine has produced about 1.3 million tons <br />of coal per year, mostly from dragline surface mining. The mine disturbs and reclaims 50 to 100 acres <br />each year. Seneca receives about 16 inches of precipitation annually, most of this arrives in the form <br />of snow. The historic use of the mining area is rangeland and wildlife habitat. Mule deer and elk use <br />the native and reclaimed land extensively. Peabody Western strives to return the surface mined land <br />to its historic use by implementing a rigorous plan of grading to approved contours, topsoil <br />replacement, native species seeding and planting, and wildlife habkat improvements (Photos 3 and 41. <br />In 1988, Peabody Western scientists developed a grazing plan on reclaimed lands with five goals: <br />1. Reduce alfalfa in reclaimed areas <br />2. Increase shrub density <br />3. Increase native species component <br />4. Increase diversity <br />5. Sustain or increase production, cover, and grazing capacity. <br />About 200 to 300 head of yearling cattle are provided each year by local ranches (Photo 51. The <br />reclaimed land was fenced to control the cattle. The fence also provides an additional benefit for <br />nesting bluebirds (Photo 61. Peabody Western provided water at several locations throughout the 300 <br />acre pasture to insure an even dispersal of the yearling steers. Each year since 1988 and prior to <br />