Laserfiche WebLink
• Dan Mathews <br />Page 2 <br />December 10, 19S1 <br />vlthouc the appropriate vegetation, wildlife would find little value <br />in their winter ranges. I have discussed the shrub density question <br />with aembers of our staff who are familiar with the subject. Our <br />reco-endations are as follows: <br />1. We should describe shrub performance standards in terms other <br />than just stems per acre. We recommend an additional descrip- <br />tion by relative height classes as an indication of relative <br />- age classes, thus the health of the reclaimed shrub cotcunity. <br />2. On areas identified by this agency as big ga.~e winter range or <br />critical winter range, which are further described as mountain <br />shrub vegetation (oak, serviceberry, bitterbrush, chokecherry, <br />mountain mahogany, et r.) the performance standard should be a <br />aini~ua of 1,000 stems per acre, not countir.; snovberrv ' <br />(Svr•ohoricarnos sn.). <br />3. The 1,000 stems per acre described in J2 above, should be cluaped <br />on between 20 percent and 35 percent of the affected acreage, <br />preferably on site conditions xost conducive to shrub survival. <br />• _ ibis could be. expressed as an interspersion or edge index as <br />Kent Croats described in his letter and with which I agree. <br />4. In sagebrush habitats, the standard should be 2,000 stets per <br />acre _l.nimum, stew to be at least eight inches tall. <br />5. On areas described by this agency as sate grouse winter ranee, <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 ve should discuss this. <br />6. Operators should be encouraged to create "topographic cover" by <br />increasing the relief of an area over premine conditions. Such <br />"roughening" of the land surface creates a diversity in micro- <br />habitats and does afford wildlife topographic cover while the <br />vegetation recovers from mining. <br />7. In areas where aspen and other tree species are the premine <br />vegetation, the performance standard should be 1,000 stems/acre <br />planted on between 25 and 50 percent of the affected area. <br />8. l:e reco^~.end that coal mina operators be encouraged to transplant <br />:azure shrub plants onto reclair..ed areas. These will ser:•e as a <br />seed source for further shrub es tablishcent and as cover for <br />wildlife. <br />~• <br />