Laserfiche WebLink
.- •- <br />;Y ,~! <br />~~ <br />DEPARTMENT OFNATURALRESOURCES <br />D. Monte Pascoe, Executive Director <br />MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION <br />DAVID C. SNELTON Dlreetor <br />R~Cn and D Lamm <br />Governor <br />July 28, 1983 <br />T0: Bob Liddle and Brian Munson ~~ )J ~- <br />FROM: Dan Mathews <br />O~ <br />RE: Coors Keenesburg Inspection; Vegetation Test Plots <br />1. The following observations were made with regard to the 3 soil depth <br />test plots established in May, 1978: <br />a) The easternmost plot is the most productive by a substantial <br />margin and it is dominated by two warm season tallgrasses, prairie <br />sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia) and sand bluestem (Andro ogonogon <br />hallii Prairie sandreed probably accounts for 80% o~the biomass. <br />Blue grams (Bouteloua racilis occurs in the understory, but is <br />not abundant. <br />b) The center plot appears to be the least productive of the three, <br />and is dominated by blue grams, a warm season shortgrass, and <br />western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii a cool season shortgrass. <br />There is some invasion by western ragweed (Ambrosia silostach a . <br />Only a few scattered prairie sandreed and no~uestem p ants are <br />represented in the plot. <br />c) The westernmost plot is dominated by western wheatgrass, with <br />blue grams also present, but at a substantially lower density than <br />in the center plot. The plot appears to be more productive than <br />the center plot, and the wheatgrass plants are 6" to 1' taller than <br />individuals of the same species in the adjacent plot. Again, only <br />a very few scattered tallgrass individuals are present. <br />From the above observations, one might logically assume that the <br />eastern plot had the 3-foot soil cover, the western plot a 2-foot soil <br />cover, and the center plot a 1-foot soil cover. Dr. William Berg, who designed <br />the study, had speculated that, with less than 3 feet of sand over overburden, <br />shortgrasses would be favored over tallgrasses. <br />However, the test plot design in the application indicates that the <br />eastern plot was covered with only 1 foot of sandy soil over compacted clay, <br />and that the western plot// received the 3-foot cover. <br />423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. (303) 866-3567 <br />