Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. William Balaz - 3 - September 9, 1988 <br />Federal lease <br />e erence rea (Pinyon -Juniper) <br />The site could be characterized as a Pinyon -juniper/mixed mountain shrub <br />association with a very sparse understory of warm se son grasses such as blue <br />grams (Bouteloua gracilis), red three-awn (Aristida longiseta) and galleta <br />(Hilaria ~amesii)`SoiTs were shallow and very rocky. <br />The other established reference area (mountain shrub) located on the steep <br />slope to the south of Highway 151 was not closely inspected, however it, too <br />is located within a woody plant dominated community. <br />Summary <br />Based on the evaluation of the seeded stands and reference areas at Ch um ey <br />Rock, the Division offers the following comments: <br />The potential for meeting woody plant density and species diversity <br />standards within the 10 year liability period, particularly with <br />regard to the East Pit backfill area, appears to be quite low, due <br />to the dominance of a few cool season grasses and the scarcity of <br />perennial fortis, warm season grasses and woody plants. We would <br />encourage you to evaluate this situation and consider the available <br />alternatives. We would point out that interseeding for the purpose <br />of increasing diversity or woody plant density can be conducted <br />during the first five years following the initial seeding without <br />re-initiating the 10 year bond liability period. After the first <br />five years, any additional cultural inputs re-start the liability <br />period. For areas initially seeded in Fall, 1983, this year (1988) <br />is the last year that such treatments could be applied without <br />re-starting the liability period. <br />2. Several areas, notably the Barren ridge and the east side of the <br />East Pit backfill are still characterized by a high percentage of <br />weedy annual species and have experienced significant rill erosion <br />in recent years. Until a stable perennial stand of vegetation <br />providing an effective soil cover is established in these areas, <br />grazing would not be prudent. <br />Apparently, no reference areas or other standards of comparison <br />have been established for the irrigated alluvial valley floor <br />pasture disturbed by the mine facilities or for the dryland pasture <br />reclamation area. Further, the dominance of tall shrubs and trees <br />in the established reference areas presents a problem with respect <br />to re vegetation success comparisons for the wildlife habitat and <br />rangeland portions of the reclaimed area. This is because the <br />woody density standard of 300 stems per acre is significantly lower <br />than the woody density within the reference areas, resulting in a <br />reclaimed corm unity structure which differs markedly from the <br />reference area communities. <br />