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West Elk Mine <br />Vegetation of the Affected Area and Reference Areas <br />Samnlinp History olthe Vegetation Communities at West Elk Mine <br />Vegetation communities at West Elk Mine have been extensively described and sampled. In 1976, <br />an initial survey and representative sampling of vegetation communities at West Elk Mine and <br />adjacent area was undertaken. Prior qualitative descriptions of the vegetation communities aze <br />lazgely taken from this survey. With mine planning more specific in 1980, two vegetation <br />communities of the area to be affected were quantitatively sampled. The oakbrush and dry meadow <br />communities were quantitatively sampled for cover, herbaceous production, shrub density, and <br />species composition. Additionally, dry meadow and oakbrush reference areas were selected. Based <br />on a review of the 1980 data, CDMG requested additional sampling of the dry meadow community <br />and reference azea. A resampling of the dry meadow vegetation community and dry meadow <br />reference area occurred in 1982. Results of the 1982 resampling satisfied CDMG for the purposes <br />of establishing a dry meadow reference area. In 1995, additional sampling of the oakbrush <br />vegetation community was undertaken in the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) area, to the east of <br />Sylvester Gulch. Quantitative sampling of vegetation cover, herbaceous production, woody plant <br />density, and species composition was completed in accordance with the CDMG requirements. <br />Expansion of the mine surface facilities is planned in 1997, with the proposed addition of two <br />ventilation shafts and other supporting facilities in Sylvester Gulch. Additional vegetation <br />communities were identified which had not been quantitatively sampled during the 1980 and 1982 <br />. vegetation studies. During 1996, the oakbrush, aspen, and riparian vegetation communities were <br />quantitatively sampled in the proposed affected area of Sylvester Gulch. The dry meadow <br />vegetation community was not sampled due to unauthorized grazing from the Gunnison National <br />Forest. CDMG concurred with the decision not to sample the dry meadow community in 1996. <br />The dry meadow reference area is no longer proposed for use in determining revegetation <br />success criteria. In 1996, a historic record approach to establishment of revegetation success <br />criteria was initiated (PR07). Initial sampling of the historic record vegetation community was <br />undertaken in 1996. The location of the historic record study azea is shown on Map 53. <br />1980 Vegetation Sampling <br />In 1980, the vegetative communities within the area to be affected were mapped. Cover and <br />production data were collected for each community to be disturbed. The purpose for conducting the <br />cover and productivity studies was to sample and chazacterize vegetation communities within the <br />affected azea and to establish reference azeas representative of the vegetation communities found <br />within the azea to be affected. <br />A detailed vegetation map (Map 43) was prepared for the area to be initially disturbed by the main <br />mine surface facilities. A combination of field checking and air-photo interpretation was used in the <br />map prepazation. Map 42 formed the basis of the vegetation mapping units. The location of the <br />historic record study area is shown on Map 53. <br /> <br />1.04-146 Revised November 2004 PRIG <br />