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<br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />~ r q <br />".:~ o t" <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION <br />FRED R. BANTA, Director <br />September 9, 1988 <br />Mr. William Balaz <br />Kaiser Steel Corporation <br />102 South Tejon, Suite 800 <br />Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 <br />RE: Chimney Rock Revegetation, File IJo. C-81-023 <br />Dear tAr Balaz: <br />As you are aware, Matt Hayes and I ran a number of vegetation cover and woody <br />plant density transects on various reclamation areas at the Chimney Rock Mine <br />during our July inspection. Areas were separated for sampling purposes based <br />on year of seeding and topographic position. Sampled areas included the west <br />slope of the East Pit backfill seeded Fall '84, the relatively flat "mesa top" <br />portion of the East Pit backfill seeded Fall '83 and '84, the west slope of <br />the East Pit backfill seeded Fall '61, and the gentlA south facing slope at <br />the south end of the East Pit backfill seeded fall '84. Summarized transect <br />data for those areas are enclosed. In addition, areas not quantitatively <br />sampled, including the east slope of the East Pit backfill, the Barren Ridge <br />reclamation and the Federal Lease reference area were closely inspected and <br />qualitatively evaluated. <br />The areas which were evaluated are discussed separately below. The data and <br />observations support several concerns expressed previously by the Division. <br />These concerns include the extremely low number of woody plants throughout the <br />reclaimed area, the low number of perennial fortis in most areas, and the <br />questionable suitability of the established reference areas, particularly in <br />regard to standards of success for dryland pasture and irrigated alluvial <br />valley floor pasture reclamation. <br />South Facing Slope at South End of East Fill <br />Fa ee 1ng <br />I This site was characterized by a diverse stand of grasses and one perennial <br />forb, birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus tennis). A few scattered four-wing saltbush <br />I (Atriplex canescens) and winter at eratoides Janata) plants were observed, <br />bu- n~o yi~anl;s were encountere 1n e 1 meter x 50 meter belt <br />transects. The stand appeared to be fairly well established, with feu annual <br />weeds present and little indication of recent erosion. <br />' Flat Top of East Pit Backfi 11 . <br />a and a eeding <br />The site was heavi ly dominated by ~aestern ~~heatgra ss (.Agropyro n smi thi i) , with <br />215 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203.2273 Tel. (303) 866-3567 <br />