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• In June 2005, a Final Technical Pmgnrr Report to the Shrub Ertablirhment Study was prepared by Mazk W. Paschke and Edwazd F. Redente (Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, Colorado State University). The following discussion and details include excerpts from this report as they relate to the Seneca II Mine study. The report in its entirety is included as Attachment A, Shrub Establishment Study. SENECA II DEMONSTRATION SHRUB PLOTS Local climate is characteristic of semi-arid steppe regions with average pzedpitation ranging from 16.1 inches to 18 inches at the mines, and increases with local elevation. Soils aze typical of soils found in cold, semi-arid regions of the western United States. They aze moderately deep (20 to 40 inches) to shallow (10-20 inches). The dominant vegetation types aze sagebrush grasslands and mountain shrublands. Girrent and historic ]and uses in the vianity of these operations is grazing for livestock, and wildlife habitat. Herds of mule deer and elk are common, especially on reclaimed azeas during the winter. The treatments used in the field study are designed to overcome the two primary obstacles to shrub establishment -competition from aggressive herbaceous spades and browsing. The herbaceous competition is primarily from introduced cool season grass species. These species aze reliable and serve as quick erosion control. They thrive where topsoil is replaced and become well established, ofren at the expense of other desirable species. Seed mixes for the demonstration plots were carefully evaluated to eliminate the competitive introduced species and include native spades. Strip seeding was used to isolate the shrub spades to further reduce competition from the herbaceous spades. Topsoil depths were varied and included seeding directly on spoil. This was done to reduce the • competition from herbaceous species that thrive where topsoH bas been replaced and to better represent the rocky substrate found in the typical habitat of several of the shrub species. Young shrub plants aze highly desirable browse fox deer and elk. Since the reclaimed lands aze located in heavily used wildlife habitat, the deer and elk are drawn to the wide open fields of reclamation. To determine the impact of wildlife browsing, half of each treatment was fenced. Seneca II Specific Plot Construction The test plots at Seneca are located adjacent to each other in one contiguous block in the Wadge Pit azea (UTM 13T 322555 4476182) at an average elevation of 7600 feek The selected site for the kest plots has an east aspect. Each treatment measures 100 feet by 100 feet. A schematic of the study plot layout is included in Attachment A, Shrub Establishment Study, on Figure 4, Shrub Establishment Demonstration Plots at Seneca Mine. Elk proof fencing of the study was completed in the spring of 2001. The fence was installed in such a fashion that treatments 2, 4 and 5 have fenced and unfenced plots. Seneca II SpeciSc Field Trial Details A description of each treatment is presented below. It should be noted that one treatment originally proposed was modified. The proposed treatment of no topsoil with seeding and transplanting was replaced with a treatment of no topsoil and transplanting, without the seeding. Spades of transplants used were boxeldet maple, Saskatoon serviceberry, black d~okecherry, C~atnble oak, Wood's rose, skunkbush sumac and mountain snowberty. All shrub transplants used at the Seneca demonstration • plots were grown from local seed sources by Bitterroot Restoration, Inc. and were inoculated with a local soil community to fadlitate the establishment of appropriate root microsymbionts. MR-52 ]3-]1-2 July 2005