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4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS Given the relatively young age of monitored revegetation (4 years more or less), revegetated community maturation is progressing reasonably well in many locations (see Table 1). In those locations indicated as progressing reasonably well (given comparison with success criteria), another evaluation at year 6 is strongly recommended. For those locations indicating more marginal progress with regard to diversity or cover attainment, it would be prudent to "subsidize" those locations with standard husbandry practices as allowed under 4.15.7 (5) before monitoring again at year 6. Recommendations for standard husbandry practices include treating those areas with more than 15% ground cover by annual grasses with a specific herbicide such as Plateau or Oust for a minimum of one season, but more appropriately for two to three concurrent seasons. These treatment areas along with those locations that seem to be missing the forb or warm-season grass component should also be interseeded with appropriate taxa to supplement the seed base that may now be depleted. One or two locations should also receive supplemental cool-season grass taxa. Two additional sites (Roadside RBA and the Diversion Ditch) exhibit subset areas with elevated cheatgrass levels and reduced desirable species. These areas should be specific targets for "husbandry" efforts. In all cases, plans for such efforts should be cleared with CDRMS before implementation to insure that the reclamation clock is not reset unnecessarily. As indicated in Cedar Creek's 2004 report, application of herbicide must coincide with the initial "green-up" of cheatgrass in early spring prior to any other species breaking dormancy. The interseeding should be heavily weighted toward warm-season grasses and perennial fortis /sub-shrubs, which are presently in low abundance throughout much of the revegetation. The interseeding should occur by pedestrian means using belt mounted /hand operated seed distributors ("whirlygigs'~. Mechanical measures will disturb the soil surface thereby further encouraging cheatgrass emergence. A recommended mix for this interseeding effort would be as follows: Species Lbs acre Seeds / ftz Warm-season Grasses Galleta Pleuraphisjamesii 2.0 7.30 Curly Mesquite Hi/aria be/anger 1.0 6.20 Cool-season Grasses Crested wheatgrass Agropyron aistatum 1.0 4.59 Thickspike wheatgrass E/ymus/anceo/alusssp. 1. 2.0 7.07 Russian Wildrye Psathyrostachysjunceus 1.0 4.02 Perennial Fortis & Subshrubs Palmer penstemon Penstemon pa/meri 0.5 7.00 Prostrate kochia Kodria prosbata 1.0 9.36 Gardner Saltbush Abiplexgardneri 1.0 2.56 Winterfat K2scheninnikovia/anata 2.0 2.60 TOTAL 11.5 50.70 CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. Page 22 sNOWCAP COAL COMPANY Revegetatlon Evaluation - 2006