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• and to provide equivalent or better carrying capacity and utility post- <br />mining. <br />Timing <br />With the significance and dominance of cool season graminoid species in <br />the rabbitbrush/big sage mixed shrubland community, emphasis should <br />be placed on ensuring germination and survival of these species in the <br />revegetation seed mixes. Precipitation during the growing season (April- <br />September) decreases from April through June, increases in July and <br />August, and then decreases slowly through the end of the growing <br />season. Given this precipitation distribution, two seeding windows aze <br />proposed. A spring seeding window would take advantage of increased <br />mid-late summer precipitation, encouraging summer growth and <br />allowing plants to add sufficient biomass prior to winter. A second <br />autumn seeding window allows seeding into relatively moist ground, but <br />prevents significant seedling growth prior to freezing, allowing seeds to <br />remain dormant over the winter with adequate moisture for early <br />germination in the spring. <br />Two optimal windows for revegetation seeding are proposed dependent on <br />• the observations described above; a spring window from March 15 to <br />June 15 and a fall window from August 15 to November 15. <br />Vegetation seeding will occur during the first planting window after <br />completion of work within the re-graded and topsoiled area. <br />Seed Mix <br />The seed mix for the revegetation of the King II Mine was developed <br />based on the stated post-reclamation land uses of rangeland and fish <br />and wildlife habitat, and the goal of reestablishing vegetation <br />communities characteristic of the pre-disturbance landscape and <br />complementary to those vegetation communities currently existing <br />outside the areas of disturbance. <br />A seed mix for the mine site requires species adapted to predominantly <br />loamy soils. The plant species must be adapted to xeric and potentially <br />droughty moisture conditions, given the predominantly south and <br />southwest exposures of the azea to be reclaimed. The majority of the <br />species selected were cool season, complementing the adjacent native <br />vegetation. The species selected were robust, and either tall or bushy to <br />provide wildlife cover and forage. A mix of warm and cool season species <br />.,,,., „~ ~~~~~,,,~„ ~ ,~,~~~.,~, ,,,,,~, „ „~ ,~yr.~ ,.~~~~~„~ , ~~.~ ~„ti„~~,~,~. <br />,,~~, „~~ <br />National King Coal, LLC King II Mine <br />Section 2.05.4 <br />Page 5 May, 2006 <br />