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4.15.3 Seeding and Planting <br />The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted <br />during the first normal period for favorable planting conditions <br />after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting <br />period for the Colowyo is. set forth in Section 2.05.4. <br />4.15.4 Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices <br />As addressed in Section 2.05.4, Colowyo currently does not mulch. <br />Chisel plowing, terracing and/or contour furrows are utilized to <br />stabilize, reduce compaction and increase the moisture retention <br />capacity of regraded topsoiled areas. Spoil will be regraded to <br />minimize long, uninterrupted slopes. Respreading of topsoil will <br />be followed by fertilizing, chisel plowing and contour furrowing. <br />The use of these soil stabilizing practices on areas currently <br />undergoing reclamation at Colowyo has been very effective in <br />controlling surface runoff, thereby preventing surface erosion and <br />gullies. <br />4.15.5 Grazing <br />All the lands reclaimed by Colowyo will not be grazed by livestock <br />until at least one year after seeding or planting and will be <br />managed to promote the postmining land use. <br />Grazing will not commence until Colowyo has demonstrated to the <br />satisfaction of the Division that the vegetation on the reclaimed <br />surface is adequately established and can be expected to withstand <br />grazing pressures. Any grazing studies undertaken by Colowyo will <br />not preclude or interfere with postmining vegetation sampling as <br />required in Section 4.15.8. <br />4.15.6 Field Trials <br />In 1975 Colowyo funded a revegetation study that was initiated on <br />the Colowyo property by the Department of Agronomy at the Colorado <br />State University and the Colorado State University Experiment <br />Station. The study was designed and the work was monitored mostly <br />to determine the suitability of using native species at the mine <br />site. Test plots were used to simulate the disturbance that would <br />result from surface mining. <br />The complete details of the four-year revegetation study are found <br />in Exhibit 10, Vegetation Information. <br />Also, in 1977 an additional shrub study was initiated in <br />conjunction with Soil Conservation Service, Upper Colorado <br />Environmental Plant Center. Approximately 35 species of shrub <br />i 4.15-3 <br />