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Drill seeding will be the preferred method of planting. Broadcast or hydroseeding <br />will be employed where steep slopes or small areas limit accessibility of the seed drill. <br />Mulching will be achieved by use of a cover crop of winter wheat or barley. HGTI <br />has found that the use of a straw mulch introduces undesirable weedy species into the <br />reclaimed area and will not be required. <br />Revegetation success will be monitored qualitatively through visual observations. <br />Quantitative sampling shall occur in the 3rd and 6th years after reclamation for cover, <br />species, production, and woody plant density. <br />Reclamation success will be determined by comparison with associated reference <br />areas. Cover in the reclaimed areas will be estimated by the point-intercept method <br />and shall be deemed acceptable if it is greater or equal to 90% of the cover in the <br />appropriate reference area with 90% statistical confidence. <br />Vegetation production will be measured by harvesting 1/2 mZ to 1 mZ plots in both <br />reclaimed and reference areas. If production in the reclaimed area is 90% or more <br />of the associated reference area at a 90% statistical confidence it shall be deemed <br />acceptable. <br />Neither dryland or improved pasture designations will be required to meet a species <br />diversity standard since post operational land use will be for agricultural use. The <br />rangeland areas will be differentiated by either upland rangeland or lowland <br />rangeland. Upland rangeland will establish 5 perennial grasses with 50% or greater <br />frequency each. Three of these grasses will contribute greater than 1% relative cover. <br />A minimum of two forbs will be established with an occurrence of 50% or greater. <br />At least one shrub will be established with a frequency of 10% or greater. On <br />lowland rangeland, six grasses shall be established each with 50% or greater <br />frequency (with four of the grasses contributing more than one percent relative cover <br />each). A minimum of one forb with greater than 50% frequency will be present in the <br />lowland rangeland type. <br />Cool season species are expected to dominate due to the environmental conditions <br />of the permit area. Species chosen in the seedmixes reflect cool season adaptations. <br />Three warm season species are included in the rangeland mix. <br />Grazing will be permitted on the reclaimed areas with careful and proper <br />management. Fencing will be installed to reflect logical management units. <br />25 <br />