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Proposed Future Research The report prepared by the RMRS researchers contains proposals for future study, but at this point there are no specific commitments, beyond those included in the permit Appendix 22-3 study plan referenced earlier in this memorandum. Based on the initial relatively high survival observed for various treatments, including native transplants, root segment sprouts, and commercial nursery seedlings, it is clear that a continuation of the study is warranted in order to obtain meaningful results on longer term growth, survival, and irrigation response. Permit Appendix 22-3 indicates that additional study plans would be submitted no later than December 2006, with level of irrigation to continue through the 2006 field season at levels to be determined by 2005 study results. However, a more detailed second year study plan addressing evaluation of survival, growth, and physiological status, in addition to irrigation treatments, may be warranted, and would need to be formalized and submitted as soon as practicable. By December 2006, a plan for longer term research should be submitted. Ideally, to ensure proper continuity of the study, the RMRS involvement in monitoring, assessment, and reporting would continue through the 2"a year study, as well as future longer term reseazch. Our specific recommendations regarding future reseazch include: A 2"a year study plan should be submitted as a minor revision to the permit, by April 15, 2006. The revision might logically be submitted as an addendum to the Appendix 22-3 study plan. The plan should include 2"a year irrigation treatment rates and frequency, and should address maintenance of precipitation, soil moisture, and temperature monitoring systems in the primary study plot; quality assurance/quality control procedures, protocol for plot management and monitoring of survival, growth, and physiological status of native transplants, root segment sprouts, and potted transplants at Seneca II-W primary study plot and the additional fenced site; and monitoring of the native sprouts on the unmined site at Yoast. These measures are largely addressed under the Proposed Future Research section of the pilot study report, and will just need to be fleshed out in detail in the 2"a year study plan. The plan should also include commitment to submittal of a longer term study plan by December 2006. 2, Competing vegetation was rigorously and continuously controlled by mechanical "weeding" within the fenced primary study plot during the initial field season. This level of competition suppression would not be realistic under operational field conditions, nor would it be desirable once transplants are adequately established, since associated shrubs and forbs are typically planted and seeded in aspen establishment areas, in addition to the aspen transplants. Fabric weed barrier product was used in conjunction with the commercial nursery stock planted in the additional fenced plot described in the study, but no further control of competition was conducted. We recommend that the 2"a year study plan incorporate suppression of competing vegetation as an additional study variable.