Laserfiche WebLink
0~~ ~~~ <br />POWOMI[~IOI IlIMI51f JII(1f~Q10Pf/5 <br />Discussion <br />Sampling in October in the region of the Grassy Gap mines is not ideal, Although <br />early forb cover and production was lost, IMS believes the mild season in 1989 <br />allowed for representative sampling overall. Likewise it is believed that vegetation <br />cover on the reclaimed areas was reduced somewhat by grazing. Because of the <br />uniformly low utilization, however, it is believed the sampling effort was not <br />significantly compromised. <br />Overall the revegetation at the Grassy Gap mines looks very good. The reclaimed <br />stands are relatively weed free. Vigor of seeded and invading species is generally <br />good. The invasion of a number of perennial species-especially shrubs-is an <br />encouraging sign of the benefits of topsoiling. <br />Grazing could be continued on the reclaimed pits under managed conditions at least in <br />years of favorable moisture. It is recommended, however, that future sampling for <br />revegetation success be conducted earlier in the season, and if grazing is anticipated, <br />exclosures should be used to allow for sampling of ungrazed production. <br />As with many coal permit applications, the revegetation success standards were <br />developed before there was much understanding of just how such standards would <br />apply in practice. The success criterion for species diversity for the Grassy Gap <br />mines is rather azbitrary, and perhaps not entirely realistic. If the reclaimed aeeas aze <br />in an upward trend with respect to vegetation cover and production, it may be <br />assumed that success criteria for cover and production will soon be achieved. There <br />may or may not be any corresponding "trend" for species diversity. If the reclaimed <br />aeeas are able to meet the other bond release criteria and aze capable of supporting the <br />post-mining land use (grazing by livestock), it would perhaps be justifiable to <br />consider amending the permit by adopting a different species diversity criterion. IMS <br />would, for instance, propose the Division allow shrub cover to be included along <br />with fortis for meeting the non-grass species relative importance requirement of the <br />species diversity revegetation success criterion. <br />~gP~ <br />i~P.~ <br /> <br />cy~~LP~ <br />11II~ ~ X <br />^AV~ <br />I"`~ <br />-3- <br />