Laserfiche WebLink
it <br /> the current year's above ground biomass in randomly located 1/2m2 to Im- sample <br /> plots. Production will not be evaluated within the concentrated tree and shrub <br /> establishment sites. These location are intended to establish "islands" of higher shrub <br /> and tree densities and are of small areal extent. Seneca Coal Company proposes to <br /> suppress herbaceous competition within these clumps thus reducing herbaceous <br /> productivity as well. The shrub and tree concentrated areas will be located within the <br /> reclaimed shrub grassland vegetative type and will comprise approximately 7% of <br /> the first permit term disturbance area. A productivity standard within the <br /> concentrated shrub areas would be insignificant in comparison to the reclaimed area <br /> as a whole. Herbaceous production in the reclaimed mesic drainage type will be <br /> determined by comparison with the weighted mean herbaceous production of the <br /> mesic drainage and improved pasture-sub irrigated vegetation types. Production <br /> standard of the permanently reclaimed portions of the haul road corridor will be <br /> based on weighted mean historical production records of the study area along the <br /> haul road corridor. <br /> Species diversity success standards for the Yoast mine area and haul road corridor is <br /> as follows: <br /> Five perennial forbs will each have greater than 50% frequency. Frequency will be <br /> determined by the percentage of samples in which a species is encountered. One <br /> perennial forb will have greater than 3% relative cover, and two additional perennial <br /> forbs will have greater than 1% relative cover. No one forb specie will have greater <br /> than 40% relative cover. <br /> Six perennial grass species will each have greater than 50% frequency. Two <br /> perennial grasses will each have greater than 3% relative cover. Two additional grass <br /> species will have greater than 1% relative cover. No one grass species will exceed <br /> 40% relative cover. <br /> Three shrubs wilt each have greater than 5% frequency. One shrub species wilt have <br /> greater than 1% relative cover. <br /> Combined relative cover of the three forbs and four grasses will not exceed 30%. <br /> Species diversity will not apply within the concentrated shrub establishment areas <br /> since the goal of these areas is to provide pockets of shrub dominated vegetation. <br /> Woody plant density standards have been determined from studies and standards <br /> encountered at comparable surface mines in the North West Colorado region. The <br /> overall woody plant density for reclaimed areas will be 450 stems per acre. <br /> Concentrated shrub establishment sites will have a woody stem density standard of <br /> 2000 stems per acre. <br /> Ytnot Aline 34 October 19, 1999 <br />