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• standard of 1000 stems per acre reveals that all of the monitored areas fall short (except the CSU shrub <br />plots). As stated in the 2003 report, it is Cedar Creek's recommendation that Colowyo pursue a program <br />of modification. This program would provide several avenues for correction of the woody plant density <br />issue (see Appendix AA -Section 7.3) by modifying both the success criterion as well as "in-the-field" <br />revegetation efforts. <br />Considering the 2005 monitoring effort as a whole, observed revegetation at the Colowyo mine is <br />generally in good condition and well onto the path of successional advancement. An occasional unit that <br />exhibits elevated levels of annual grasses or early sera) weeds may or may not need remediation <br />(herbicide treatment) depending on future (more normal) precipitation patterns that should favor planted <br />perennials. As revegetated communities continue to mature, the majority should meet both land use <br />goals and bond release success criteria with regard to ground cover, diversity, and current annual <br />production. However, woody plant densities in most units with at least two growing seasons are below, <br />and occasionally well below, the current standard of 1,000 shrubs per acre. This difficulty must be <br />addressed, and several options are available for Colowyo to consider and present to CDMG. <br />Sections that follow on 11 x 17 pages (2.2, 2.3, and 2.4) provide a brief narrative of the results from <br />• each individual unit evaluated by Cedar Creek. Also included for each unit is a map of the 2005 sample <br />points and gone-page summary (compendium) of all pertinent data collected within the unit and <br />revegetation specifications applicable to the unit". Section 2.6 provides a data summary by area (East <br />Pit, West Pit, and Section 16), while Section 2.7 provides a summary by vear of revegetation (1998, 2001, <br />and 2003). Section 2.8 provides a discussion of the results from the sampling of the two reference areas. <br />A discussion of the results from sampling of the CSU shrub plots in East Pit is presented in Section 2.9. <br />Raw data tables for cover, production, and woody plant density are presented in Appendix AB. <br />• ~ Data and specifications are limited to that information collected by, or known to, Cedar Creek as of 2005. Past <br />data and information could be adtled to these compendia at any time. Future data can be added as it becomes <br />available. <br />Kennecott Energy Co. / Colowyo Mine Page 6 Revegetation Monitoring - 2005 <br />