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<br />Don :iathevs <br />~_~ page 2 <br />December !0, 1981 <br />without the appropriate vegetation, wildlife would find little value <br />in their winter ranges. I have discussed the shrub density question <br />with members of our staff who are familiar with the subject. Out <br />recommendations are as follows: <br />1. Ne should describe shrub performance standards in terms other <br />than just stems per acre, Ide recommend an additional descrip- <br />tion by relative fieight classes as an indication of relative <br />- age classes, thus [he health of the reclaimed shrub community. <br />2. On areas identified by <br />critical winter range, <br />shrub vegetation (oak, <br />mountain mahogany, et <br />minimum of 1,000 stems <br />(Svmphoricarpos sp.). <br />[his agency as big game winter range or <br />which are further described as mountain <br />serviceberry, bitterbrush, chokecherry, <br />c.) the performance standard should be a <br />per acre, not counting.snovberry ' <br />3. The 1,000 stems per acre described in 02 abo•~e, should be clumped <br />on between'20 pet cent and 35 .percent of the affected acreage, <br />preferably on site conditions most conducive to shrub survival. <br />This could 6e expressed as an interspersion or edge index as <br />Kent Crofts described in his letter and with which I agree. <br />l ~ <br />~., In sagebrush habitats, the standard should be 2,000 stems per <br />acre minimum, stem to be at leas[ eight inches tall. <br />5. On areas described by Ch is agency as sage grouse winter ran e, <br />' the performance standard should be 3,000 stems per acre, a <br />stem to be at least 12 inches tall. This may require a change <br />in the grass-multch seeding regulation to reduce competition with <br />'sagebrush. Perhaps we should discuss Chis. <br />6. Operators should be encouraged to create "topographic cover" by <br />inereasing~the relief of an area over premine conditions. Such <br />"roughening" of the land surface creates a diversity in micro- <br />habita[s and does afford vildliEe topographic coves while the <br />vegetation recovers from mining. <br />7. In areas where aspen and otlict Crec. species arc [lie premine <br />vegetation, the pcrform:incc stondard~sliould be~i,000 stemsJacrc <br />planted on between 25 and SO percent of the affected area. <br />8. We recommend that coal mine operators be encouraged to transplant <br />mature shrub plants onto reclaimed areas. These will serve as a <br />seed source for further shrub establishment and as cover for <br />wildlife. <br />~`98-53~~ <br />