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SECTION B: TOPSOIL DEPTH & SHRUB ESTABLISHMENT STUDY • <br />Introduction <br />The Topsoil Depth and Shrub Establishment Study is being conducted to determine the effect of <br />topsoil application on the re-establishment of native woody plants in reclaimed areas at Seneca II <br />Mine. Establishment of Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), <br />and Gambel's Oak (Quercus gambelii) is potentially limited by both plant competition resulting <br />from topsoil application and inappropriate soil texture as shrub species tend to favor thin soil <br />sites with coazse, rocky substrates. This report documents the second of three yeazs of data <br />collection for the site. Final results of the study will be presented in Fall 1998. <br />Me hods <br />Study Design. The study site is located within the planting unit designated 95-4 at Seneca II <br />Mine. The two treatments investigated in this study aze: 1) "Control" in which the topsoil depth <br />averages 20.9 centimeters; and 2) "No-Topsoil" in which topsoil was not applied to the final <br />graded spoils. Prior to study establishment, both sites were planted in a common fashion by a <br />commercial tree planting crew. The experimental design (Figure 2) consists of a series of belt <br />transects randomly placed along baselines within the two treatment azeas. Two baselines were <br />subjectively placed along the lower slope boundary of each treatment plot. A total often <br />permanent belt transects, 2 meters by 25 meters, were randomly placed along each baseline. Belt • <br />transects were not allowed to overlap. Variables will be measured along these transects for a <br />total of three years. Final analysis will consist of comparison between the effects of the two <br />treatments on the three variables listed below based on a one-way ANOVA. This report limits <br />itself to the documentation of data collection and reporting of observations made during the <br />September 2, 1997 monitoring trip. <br />The following variables were measured or observed during the 1997 data collection period: <br />Shrub Survival <br />Shrub Vigor <br />Canopy Cover <br />L~ <br />24 <br />