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IX. BACKFILLING AND GRADING <br />Information regarding bacldilling and grading of the HG loadout may be found in <br />Tabs 17, 18 and 23 of the permit application. A summary is given above, in the <br />Reclamation Plan portion of this document. <br />Backfilling and grading operations will return the disturbed area associated with the <br />loadout to approximate original contour within one year after the year in which <br />operations cease. <br />X. <br />Baseline vegetation information may be found in Tab 10 with plant community types <br />identified on Exhibit 10-1. Revegetation plans are found in Tab 20 and Exhibit 18-1 <br />of the permit application. <br />Post operational revegetation plans correspond with existing and surrounding <br />vegetative communities. Dryland cropping of small grains, dryland pasture, improved <br />pasture, and native rangelands exist both on the permit area and in the general <br />vicinity of the loadout. Soils associated with the Dry Creek drainage tend to be <br />alkaline clay loams and loams. Plant species found in the area are adapted to saline <br />and alkaline conditions. <br />Approximately 70 acres were revegetated following construction of the loadout and <br />rail loop facilities. Plant species present in the revegetated areas include intermediate <br />wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, Russian <br />wildrye, timothy, alfalfa, and yellow sweetclover. <br />Adjacent and undisturbed lands tend to have a high incidence of shrubs. Heavy use <br />by livestock grazing has aided in the increase of shrub densities. Postmining <br />communities will be: dryland pasture, improved pasture, and rangeland. Due to the <br />narrow configuration of the area designated as rangeland, approximately 200-250 ft <br />wide, no woody plant density standard will be imposed on the rangeland area. The <br />Division has received confirmation from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in a letter <br />dated March 10, 1993 that the absence of a woody plant component in the rangeland <br />area would not be detrimental to wildlife use and would increase the "edge" effect <br />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 seedmix. The Division <br />proposes to approve the use of a less aggressive species of alfalfa, such as Medicaeo <br />falcata, in small quantities in the seed mix. <br />2a <br />