2003-09-03_REPORT - C1981028 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: BYRON WALKER FROM: ).1NET B1NNS SUBJECT: KEENESB G _ A UAL RECLA \fATION REPORTS DATE: 09/03/03 CC: DAN tIERNANDEL Coors Energy Company submitted the 2002 ARR on February 28, 2003. Submittal was two weeks after the February 15'" due date as stated in Rule 2.04.13. The Keenesburg Mine permit, C-1981-028, page 117, has committed to submitting the Annual Reclamation Report by the end of February each year. The submitted report is in compliance with the approved permit. Vegetative success is based on comparison with the approved Osgood Reference area. Cover success is based on total vegetative cover, which includes woody plant cover. Production is based on herbaceous vegetative cover. Species composition is based on relative cover of the individual plant species compared to a composition standard. There is no woody stem density requirement for the Keenesburg Mine reclamation success standard. In 2002 Colorado experienced a significant drought statewide. Precipitation data reported by CEC indicates that precipitation amounts were roughly 60% of what would be received in an average precipitation year. Timing of when precipitation is received is as significant as the quantity received. 2002 experienced a very dry spring and summer. Vegetation response would be expressed by reduced growth, earlier drying up, and inhibited germination. Though CEC's data reflect the plant communities' response to drought conditions, comparison with the Osgood reference area shows similar response in the undisturbed reference area as well. In 2002, total cover measured in the Osgood reference azea was 22.6%. This is less than 50% of the recorded cover value of 48.8% that was measured in 2001. CEC measured total vegetative cover in the 1995 Reclaimed azea at 23.2%, 1997 Reclaimed area at 23.2%, and the 1998 reseeded/intexseeded area at 29.8%. Based on this data, all sampled areas would meet the cover standard. The data represents the 7`h growing season for the 1995 Reclaimed azea and the 5'" growing season for the 1997 Reclaimed area. The significant reduction in vegetative cover during the 2002 sampling is indicidve of the drought conditions. Herbaceous productivity measured in the Osgood reference area in 2002 was 26.26 grams/MZ (2341b/acre). Herbaceous productivity measured on the 1995 Reclaimed, 1997 Reclaimed, and 1998 Reseeded areas was 52.13 grams/MZ (465 lb/acre), 61.15grams/MZ (545 lb/acre), and 79.1 grams/MZ (705 lb/acre) respectively. Productivity values are drastically reduced from preceding year values as a result of the severe drought conditions. All three measured reclaimed azeas exceed the herbaceous productivity standard based on reference area production. 2002 sampling data show that species composition was not met for any of the sampled areas. Not even the Osgood reference area would meet the required vegetation diversity standard found in the permit. The diversity standard calls fox 7 perennial non-noxious species with greater than 3% relative importance but less than 40%