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L.,J <br />• <br /> <br />2.3.2 WPOO9 <br />WP009 is comprised of 0.9 acres of <br />moderately sloping revegetation that has a <br />predominately northerly aspect. This unit was <br />seeded in 2001 and therefore, has undergone <br />four growing seasons prior to sampling in <br />2005. A total of 17 plant taxa were observed <br />in the unit (see Table AB-1). Ground cover in <br />WP009 consisted of 67.8% live vegetation, <br />0.6% rock, 20.0% litter, and bare soil <br />exposure of 11.6%. Perennial cover across the <br />unit averaged 25.0% with annual and biennial <br />cover averaging 42.8%. The dominant taxa <br />were Japanese brome (B~omus japonicus), <br />cheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, and field <br />pennycress with 25.0%, 9.0%, 8.4%, and <br />4.8% average cover, respectively. Woody <br />plant density was determined from 5 belt <br />transects. Density (Table 2) totaled 81 young <br />and mature stems per acre with Gambel oak <br />(Que~cus gambe/ii) the dominant woody plant. <br />With regard to diversity, WP009 exhibited 5 <br />perennial grasses and 0 perennial (orbs with <br />between 3% and SO% relative cover. <br />Mao Se•W7009 ~ -~~L. <br />vw.nno. s.me~ioe VaM mnw-mas '~K' <br />~~e: as.~ o m a m ,A ,~ <br />bond release diversity standard of 3 perennial <br />grasses and 1 perennialforb with between 3% <br />and 50% relative cover. This unit should readily pass production bond release comparison to the <br />reference areas, but presently does not pass cover comparisons (see Chart 3). Also, this unit does not <br />presently meet the woody plant density standard of 90% of 1000 stems per acre and will probably not <br />meet this in the foreseeable future due to the heavy competitive grass cover. See Appendix AA -Section <br />7.3 for a discussion on options and recommendations with regard to woody plant density. Noxious weeds <br />appear to be controlled in this unit, however annual bromes are prevalent throughout the unit, comprising <br />approximately 33% of the cover after four years. Because of the abundance of cheatgrass and Japanese <br />brome, use of the herbicide Oust or Plateau is recommended to bring these taxa under control and <br />release water and nutrientr for use by perennials. <br />Unit WP009 currently does not pass the <br />Unit WP009 exhibits good diversity and perennial cover levels for four year old revegetation. <br />Monitoring and control of the annual brome patches is recommended. <br />Kennecott Energy Co. / Colowyo Mine Page 20 Revegetation Monitoring - 2005 <br />