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-50- STIPULATION N0. 8 WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF PERMIT ISSUANCE, THE PERMITTEE WILL PROPOSE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS FOR HERBACEOUS COVER, PRODUCTION AND SPECIES DIVERSITY OR LOCATE APPROPRIATE REFERENCE AREAS AND SUBMIT ACCEPTABLE SAMPLING DATA TO THE DIVISION TO BE USED IN EVALUATIONS OF REVEGETATIUN SUCCESS. As provided by Rule 4.15.8(7), the applicant has requested that a lesser density of woody plants be allowed than existed prior to mining or than presently exists in the oakbrush community adjacent to the disturbed area. Due to the fact that the disturbed area is small (29 acres) and is not a critical wildlife habitat; the request is approved by the Division. A predominately herbaceous community will provide the most rapid ground cover and site stabilization following mining, and would be utilized by mule deer and other wildlife due to the adjacent cover provided by the surrounding oakbrush community. Therefore, no specific woody plant density standard will be set by the Division for disturbed areas within the oakbrush community. Adapted mountain shrub species have been included in the seed mix. (See Table 8, attached.) Redosier dogwood (Corpus stoloniferaj, rose (Rosa woodsii), and willow (Salix ~p_) seedlings will be transplanted in disturbed segments of the narrow riparian zone along the riverbank. Due to the importance of the bank side woody vegetation to aquatic biota and aesthetics, the Division is imposing a woody plant density standard of 500 stems per acre for riparian areas immediately adjacent to the river. W.S.C. has proposed to plant approximately 5,000 stems per acre in the riparian areas. A 10% transplant survival should be achievable, and 500 stems per acre would provide adequate initial shrub establishment as well as a source for further establishment by seed and vegetative spread. In the preliminary adequacy letter of March 26, 1981, the Division requested clarification and detail regarding methods of seeding and mulching and a sampling plan to be used for comparing the reclaimed area to the success standards. The applicant's responses, which have been incorporated into the applicaton, have satisfied the Division's concerns. The reclamaton plan addresses revegetation of steep slope areas (greater than 30'x) which characterize the west portals; the toe slope colluvial and alluvial soils (less than 30% slopes) and the small amount of disturbance in the riparian community immediately adjacent to the river. Vegetation in the vicinity of the Hotchkiss refuse disposal is characterized by a sparse cover of salt tolerant grasses and low shrubs adapted to the low (9") precipitation and clayey soils. The SCS mapping classification is a salt desert range site. The proposed post-mine land use at the refuse disposal is dry land agriculture. As requested by the landowner, the final grading will result in a smooth gradual slope assuring drainage compatible with dryland farming.