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~_~ <br />`~ <br /> <br />2.3.3 WPO3O <br />WPO10 is comprised of 5.7 acres of <br />steeply sloping revegetation that has a <br />predominately westerly 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 19 plant taxa were observed <br />in the unit (see Table AB-1}. Ground cover in <br />WPO10 consisted of 78.5% live vegetation, <br />0.8% rock, 9.2% litter, and bare soil exposure <br />of 11.5%. Perennial cover across the unit <br />averaged 28.5% with annual and biennial <br />cover averaging 50.0%. The dominant taxa <br />were Japanese brome, cheatgrass, thickspike <br />wheatgrass, and Siberian wheatgrass with <br />24.1%, 20.9%, 9.1%, and 6.6% average <br />cover, respectively. Woody plant density was <br />determined from 15 belt transects. Density <br />(Table 2) totaled 0 young and mature stems <br />per acre, With regard to diversity, WP010 <br />exhibited 4 perennial grasses and 0 perennial <br />(orbs with between 3% and 60% relative <br />rover. <br />grasses and 1 perennial forb with between <br />3% and 50% relative cover. This unit should <br />pass production bond release comparison to the reference areas, but presently does not pass cover <br />comparisons (see Chart 3). Also, this unit does not presently meet the woody plant density standard of <br />90% of 1000 stems per acre and will probably not meet this in the foreseeable future due to the heavy <br />competitive grass cover. See Appendix AA -Section 7.3 for a discussion on options and recommendations <br />with regard to woody plant density. Noxious weeds appear to be controlled in this unit, however annual <br />bromes are prevalent throughout the unit, comprising approximately 45% of the cover after four years. <br />Because of the abundance of cheatgrass and Japanese brome, use of the herbicide Oust or Plateau is <br />recommended to bring these taxa under control and release water and nutrients for use by perennials. <br />Unit WPOSO currently does not pass the <br />bond release diversity standard of 3 perennial <br /> <br /> <br />10 9 e 1 <br /> <br />33 11 B 5 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />;iii/r:' ,:, <br />Mao Il - W V010 ,~, <br />~ <br />vepeulbn Ymoune mint moon.-LIDS ^'~~•+~' <br />z0055ampvq Polnc iw.w+assen __..___.._ <br />GM Sltt: 13P v 1]P <br />Unit WPO10 exhibits good diversity and perennial cover levels for four year old revegetation. <br />Monitoring and control of the annual brome patches is highly recommended. <br />Kennecott Energy Co.l Colowyo Mine <br />Page 21 <br />Revegetation Monitoring - 2005 <br />