REP16552 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Climax Mine Tree Transplanting Project Summary 2006 Overview Climax Mine initiated an innovative transplanting project during 2005 to utilize native plant materials located within the disturbance footprint of the 10-Mile pond lime plant and sludge settling cells construction project. Climax Mine contracted with Habitat Management, Inc. and Colorado Tree Spade Services to evaluate the soils, equipment access and potential plant materials available for digging, moving and transplanting of trees, shrubs and grasses from the construction area to selected locations on the mine. Due to the success of these efforts in 2005, the tree transplanting program was continued in 2006. Trees growing on an old topsoil stock pile neaz the Mayflower Tailings Pond as well as trees located in a bone yard behind the Pond Shop were removed and transplanted onto Robinson Tailings Pond, along Billy Blvd., and on the slopes of E Dump. Digging activities were initiated in August 2006 after the selected trees and shrubs had completed their seasonal growth and were hardening off the new growth and setting terminal buds for the 2007 growing season A variety of tree spade sizes were used to result in root balls ranging in size from 24 inches to 60 inches in diameter. Due to dry soil conditions, the trees were sprinkler irrigated prior to digging and in some cases were hose irrigated during digging. Tree spades were used to dig the plant material and place it in a burlap-lined wire basket for transportation to the transplanting site. The trees and shrubs were transported by flat-bed truck to transplant areas. A backhoe was used to excavate a receiving hole in the rock cover. The receiving hole was excavated to the contact with the tailings material. The transplant was placed in the hole and backfilled with a mixture of topsoil and composted biosolids. Mycorrhizal fungal innoculant and polyacrylamide polymer amendments were added to the backfill soil prior to irrigating the transplants. Both 2005 and 2006 transplants were imgated once in 2006, the smaller root balls received approximately 25 gallons of water while large mot balls received up to l50 gallons. Trees over six feet tall were staked and wired to withstand strong wind gusts that may exceed 50 mph. Staking and wire materials were used in such a manner as to min;mi~r. girdling. Climax will remove the wires in 2007 or 2008. Plant specific data were collected from each 2006 transplant including a GPS location, species, height, width (shrubs), diameter breast height (DBH, trees) and survival. Additionally, all 2005 transplants were revisited and their survival status was updated to determine second yeaz survival rates. Height, width, DBH were not remeasured in the second yeaz, but will be in the third year. A summary of data collected in both 2005 and 2006 are included below as well as 2- year trends.