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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />• Quantitative sampling of the Osgood sand reference azea, azeas reseeded or interseeded in <br />1998, the 1999 and 2000 reclamation azeas, and preliminary quantitative sampling for the <br />2002 reclamation azeas was conducted in August 2005. Vegetation cover, total herbaceous <br />production, and species composition were sampled. Comparisons were made between total <br />vegetation cover and total herbaceous production values from the Osgood sand reference azea <br />(which currently establishes the final revegetation success criteria) and the revegetated areas. <br />The 1998 reseeded or interseeded areas met the final revegetation success criterion for total <br />vegetation cover. The 1999, 2000, and 2002 reclamation azeas did not meet the final <br />revegetation success criterion for total vegetation cover. The 1999 and 2002 reclamation <br />areas met the final revegetation success criterion for total herbaceous production. The azeas <br />reseeded or interseeded in 1998 and the 2000 reclamation azeas did not meet the final <br />revegetation success standard for total herbaceous production. Species composition of the <br />reclamation azeas was also evaluated from a final success criterion perspective. Based on the <br />current requirements of the mining and reclamation permit, none of the reclamation azeas <br />quantitatively sampled this yeaz would meet the species composition success criterion. The <br />Osgood sand reference azea, the native vegetation community by which the reclamation is <br />evaluated, did not meet the species composition criterion. Preliminary quantitative <br />evaluation of the 2002 reclamation areas indicated successful vegetation growth during its <br />second growing season. Quarterly inspections of the reclamation azeas were conducted <br />during 2005 to assess the presence and impacts of pests and disease to the revegetation. No <br />pests or diseases were identified during the 2005 inspections. <br />• <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />This report presents the results of the annual revegetation monitoring and pest and disease <br />inspections for the Keenesbwg Mine (Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology permit C- <br />1981-028) owned by Coors Energy Company. Quantitative information in this report <br />addresses the vegetative condition of the Osgood sand reference azea, the 1998 reseeded or <br />interseeded areas, and the 1999, 2000, and 2002 reclamation azeas at the mine. Vegetative <br />sampling is required by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) as part of <br />ongoing reclamation monitoring. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Boazd Surface Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15 at the <br />time of sampling and current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling was <br />conducted between August 8 and 16, 2005 by Savage and Savage, Inc. biologists. <br />The Keenesbwg Mine is located in Weld County, Colorado, approximately seven (7) miles <br />north of Keenesbwg, Colorado and is accessed by Weld County Road 59. Coors Energy <br />Company operated the Keenesbwg Mine for coal extraction from 1980 to 1988. Reclaimed <br />areas sampled in 2005 were baclcfilled, graded, topsoiled and revegetated in accordance with <br />the approved mining and reclamation plan. The revegetation standazds used to evaluate these <br />areas aze those cwrently in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act <br />{CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the Keenesbwg Mining and Reclamation Permit (C-81-028). <br />\h M <br />Coors Energy Company Keenesbwg Mine Page 6 <br />2005 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />