REP10902

• Permit No: C1981028
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 4/22/1985
• Doc Name: REVEGETATION CONCERNS KEENESBURG MINE FN C-028-81
• From: MLRD
• To: RANDY PRICE
• Permit Index Doc Type: REVEG MONITORING REPORT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

V
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
David H. Getches, Executive Director
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
DAVID C. SHELTON, Director
Richard D. Lamm
Governor
DATE: April 22, 1985
T0: Randy Price
FROM: Dan Mathews
RE: Revegetation Concerns, eenesburg Mine - File No. C-028-81
1978 Sand Over Clay Test Plots
I have attached a copy of my July, 1983 memorandum to Messrs. Bob Liddle and
Brian Munson regarding observations I had made at that time.
Based on our inspection of April 5, 1985, I believe comments 1 and 3 regarding
topsoil depth test plots and individual species test plots are still valid (we
didn't look at the individual species plots last week). However, I need to
point out that in the 1983 memorandum I stated that the plot diagram in the
application showed the one-foot depth plot on the east and the three-foot
depth plot on the west. That is not the case. The plot diagram shows the
one-foot plot on the west, the three-foot plot in the center, and the two-foot
plot on the east. We verified the plot diagram to be correct.
The most productive plot (by visual estimate) is the two foot sand over clay
dominated by the two warm season tall grasses. The three-foot plot is still
the least productive, and still dominated by blue grama. Western wheatgrass,
which was noted in the 1983 memorandum is represented but is a minor
component. The one-foot plot is heavily dominated by Western wheatgrass, with
blue grama also present.
The rather dramatic and unexpected difference between the two- and three-foot
plots warrants further investigation. It is unfortunate that data has not
been collected on an annual basis. The plots were monitored in 1978, 1979 and
1980 (total cover and production). In 1979 and 1980, the one-foot sand over
clay plot was the most productive. A severe reduction in cover on the two-
and three-foot plots was attributed to excessive compaction which was thought
to have restricted root growth. The 1978, 1979 and 1980 monitoring of the
soil depth test plots did not include collection of data by species.
Evidently, there were no apparent differences in species composition between
the two- and three-foot plots in 1978, 1919 and 1980.
423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. [phone]