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communities will be: dryland pasture, improved pasture, and rangeland. Due to <br />the narrow configuration of the azea designated as rangeland, approximately 200- <br />250 ftwide, no woody plant density standazd will be imposed on the rangeland <br />azea. The Division has received confirmation from the Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife in a letter dated March 10, 1993 that the absence of a woody plant <br />component in the rangeland area would not be detrimental to wildlife use and <br />would increase the "edge" effect along adjacent shrublands. <br />Four seed mixes will be used. Each mix has been formulated for adaptation to a <br />particular land use and location for which it will be planted. HGTI proposes to <br />include an introduced legume, alfalfa, in the rangeland seed mix. The Division <br />proposes to approve the use of a less aggressive species of alfalfa, such as <br />Medica~o falcata, in small quantities in the seed mix. <br />Drill seeding will be the preferred method of planting. Broadcast or hydroseeding <br />will be employed where steep slopes or small aeeas limit accessibility of the seed <br />drill. Mulching will be achieved by use of a cover crop of winter wheat or barley. <br />HGTI has found that the use of straw mulch introduces undesirable weedy species <br />into the reclaimed area and will not be required. <br />Revegetation success will be monitored qualitatively through visual observations. <br />Quantitative sampling shall occur in the 3rd and 6th yeazs after reclamation for <br />cover, species, production, and woody plant density. <br />Reclamation success will be determined by comparison with associated reference <br />aeeas. Cover in the reclaimed areas will be estimated by the point-intercept <br />method and shall be deemed acceptable if it is greater or equal to 90% of the cover <br />in the appropriate reference area with 90% statistical confidence. <br />Vegetation production will be measured by harvesting 1/2 mZ to 1 m2 plots in both <br />reclaimed and reference areas. If production in the reclaimed area is 90% or more <br />of the associated reference azea at a 90% statistical confidence it shall be deemed <br />acceptable. <br />Neither dryland or improved pasture designations will be required to meet a <br />species diversity standard since post operational land use will be for agricultural <br />use. The rangeland areas will be differentiated by either upland rangeland or <br />lowland rangeland. Upland rangeland will establish 5 perennial grasses with 50% <br />or greater frequency each. Three of these grasses will contribute greater than 1 <br />relative cover. A minimum of two forbs will be established with an occurrence of <br />50% or greater. At least one shrub will be established with a frequency of 10% or <br />greater. On lowland rangeland, six grasses shall be established each with 50% or <br />greater frequency (with four of the grasses contributing more than one percent <br />relative cover each). A minimum of one forb, with greater than 50% frequency, <br />will be present in the lowland rangeland type. <br />23 <br />