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Project Abstract Successful re-establishment of aspen on surface-mined lands in the western United States is problematic, because the species regenerates vegetatively by sprouting from parent roots in the soil which are removed in the mining process. Previous attempts to plant aspen seedlings on reclaimed mines have failed because transplanted root sprouts or seedlings do not have an extensive root system to access water and nutrients for rapid growth. This proposed research builds on work previously funded by the Seneca Coal Company in western Colorado to identify factors that limit the growth and survival of planted aspen. We will test the use of supplemental irrigation to help establish planted aspen and to compare growth and survival of three types of aspen stock. We also plan to monitor soil and water conditions and test the effect of weed control on planting success. We plan for this research to be a collaborative two-year effort, with funds for operations requested from Seneca Coal and 2007 operations funded by OSM-NTTT. Regional Special Interest Topic: Wildlife Conservation and Reforestation Reforestation-Improving survival and quality, and encouraging reforestation Project Description Objectives: 1. Determine if supplemental drip irrigation will allow transplanted aspen saplings to survive and grow on reclaimed surface mined lands at a western Colorado site. 2. Quantify second and third-year growth and physiologic condition of bare-root saplings transplanted to replaced topsoil, aspen sprouting from root segments transferred with replaced topsoil, and nursery-grown potted aspen saplings planted in replaced topsoil. 3. Compare irrigation water quality and characteristics of replaced topsoil to that of water and soils in intact aspen groves located on adjacent un-mined lands. 4. Quantify the effects of mechanical weed control on growth and survival of young aspen trees. 5. Quantify root growth and development of transplanted aspen saplings, natural root sprouts, and nursery-grown potted aspen seedlings after three growing seasons. Background: Quaking aspen (Popu/us tremuloides) is the most widespread tree species in North America (Baker 1925; Preston 1976; Lieffers and others 2001), and thought to be second in worldwide range only to Eurasian aspen (Populus tremu/a) (Jones 1985a). Aspen is found in most of eastern Canada and the U.S. (except the Southeast), throughout the upper Midwest and Lake States, across sub-boreal Canada and Alaska, in the Rocky Mountains from Canada through the U.S. and into northern Mexico, and in mountain ranges paralleling the west coast from Alaska through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Mexico's northern Baja California (Preston 1976). The species is most abundant in Canada's central