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• The following shrub and tree planting lists inGude trees and shrubs for specific planting sites. The planted <br />species will attempt to establish islands that will eventually develop woody plant communities, restore <br />habitat, and enhance plant community diversity, pattern, and structure. The plantings are not intended to <br />restore woody plant communities on a large scale in the mine affected areas. As explained in Woody Plant <br />Density under the success standards, restoring even moderate densities on a large scale is not feasible. <br />However, the species selected for the various planting areas are native to the area and site-adapted and <br />may be able to spread and colonize new areas over time. The plantings will be concentrated in larger open <br />blocks of the reGaimed area to promote woody plant reestablishment and mitigate wildlife habitat loss. They <br />will be sufficiently scattered to diversify habitat potential. Development of wildlife conidors was also a <br />consideretion. Exhibit 13-1 shows primary selection areas for planting sites. These areas do not represent <br />the acreage to be established. Final site selection and additional planting sites will be based on field <br />observation. Suffident sites will be established to meet the criteria in the woody plant density success <br />criteria. <br />Natural regeneration of shrubs, particulady big sagebrush and mountain snowbeny, has played an important <br />role in woody plant reestablishment at the Seneca II Mine. These two shrubs occur in native stands that <br />have a high composition of herbaceous species. It should be expelled that these two species will dominate <br />shNb composition in reclaimed areas which are also comprised of primarily herbaceous species. <br />Complimenting natural regeneration will be fhe inclusion of shrub seed in the seed mixes and the <br />establishment of concentrated shrub seeding areas where competing herbaceous vegetation will be <br />controlled. The dose proximity of undisturbed native vegetation, some of which may occur within the mine <br />affected area, will also enhance woody plant mitigation efforts. <br />Shrub and tree seedlings will be selected from planting stock developed from regional genotypes. Planting <br />stock will primarily be containerized, although bare root stock may ocgsionalty be used. Since 1990, <br />Peabody has been planting chokecherry, servicebeny, and Gambel oak seedlings developed from seed <br />collected at [he Seneca Mina. This practice will continue; however, poor seed crops for species such as <br />Gambel oak are common and may restrict the level at which a speces may be used in a given year. Table <br />13-6 lists the primary species and addition/substitute species to be used in planting areas. The species <br />selected represent those species which may have a better opportunity for establishment considering the <br />more xeric site conditions of the reGaimed areas. Aspen has been <br />• <br />1318 Revised 1/t5/93 <br />