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State Reg. <br /> <br />- ~ ;,.- a,o~•.- ;,efforts alone (Crofts and-Parkin, ,1,979)._The,proposed method of reestab- <br />- . ;; _-, ; • lisp-ing the, woody portion of .the habitat is a combination of planting and <br />r. i - , natural shrub-:establishment, processes. It has already been documented <br />- In the Postmining..Lgnd Use Plan, (Tab 13) that .the shrub dominated <br />- communities will. reestablish themselves-readily ,when direct hauling of <br />. ,- _ <br />topsoil is,done-and. natural.invasionof shrubs begins. Additionally, shrub <br />seed will :be added.to the.mix_and planting of shrubs in islands (see the <br />Revegetation Plan, Tab 13) will enhance edge and structural diversity. <br />Inevitably, the processes of natural succession will return the area to a <br />shrub dominated community once again. It is only reasonable then that <br />reclamation efforts begin the process-and not attempt to reestablish the <br />premining conditions in a short period.. <br />Aspen stands in. The area are,being utilized by a,variety of wildlife at this <br />. .time. The aspen provide. the greatest diversity for songbirds, nesting <br />habitat for raptors,,- cover for mule deer, and potential elk calving <br />areas. As shown on Exhibit 13-I "Post Mining Vegetation Types Map", . <br />- - aspen will be reestablished in a manner that closely resembles the origi- <br />_ ~ nal aspen stands. It.should also be noted that large contiguous areas of <br />aspen exist adjacent to the disturbed,_areps, Additionally, stands of aspen <br />- ...exist east of the northeastern portion of_the permit area (see I/2 Mile <br />Buffer Zone Map, Exhibit 13-6). The stands of .aspen not disturbed and <br />the eventual reestablishment of those stands destroyed will aid in miti- <br />~~_, gating the long-term impacts on.this habitat.. - <br />., <br />- ., ~ _ - _ - <br />- - - . ,The remainder of the area will be planted primarily with grasses and as <br />• , many forb sper_ies as are commercially available at any given time. The <br />_ _ - herbaceous community that will result will introduce a level of habitat <br />- , ~- :. ~,;- diversity that is currently lacking.- The more open areas created by the <br />_- ~_ -, y; „ - .; herbaceous community will increase food and nesting habitat fora vari- <br />-~ <- ~•~ -r ,~ - ety of birds and small mammals. Studies at the Big Sky Mine in Montana <br />_ indicate that some of the highest small mammal densities were found in <br />the reclaimed areas (ECON, 1981). The combination of increased open <br />areas and higher small mammal populations will increase hunting oppor- • <br />tunities for mammalian predators and raptors. <br />14-8 Revised 5-27-81 <br />