1988-09-16_REPORT - C1981028 - Laserfiche WebLink

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of Co STATE OF COLORADO „e p Roy Romer, Governor •�1876 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION FRED R. BANTA, Director DATE: September 23, 1988 TO: Dan Mathews 1 FROM: Matt Hayes RE: Keenesburg Mine (C-81 -028) Vegetation Reference Areas On September 21 , I sampled the Keenesburg fenced reference areas using the mechanical point frame. The two separate areas inspected were the Sandsage - Prarie Sandreed Reference Area (Osgood Sand) which is north of the main mine access road and the Sandsage - Prarle an reed Reference Area (Valent Sand) south of the road. A large difference was noted between these two areas. The quality of the vegetation in the Osgood Area was superior to that of the Valent Area, which was dominated by Sandsage (Artemisia filifolia) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Data describing each area are attached. Below are written summaries of the data. Valent Sand Fenced Reference Area Total vegetation cover was relatively low (26.4%) , though because of the large amount of litter, total cover was comparable to that of the Osgood Area. Of this low vegetation cover, warm and cool season perennial grasses composed 13.6% and 10.6% relative cover respectively. Cheatgrass, on the other hand, alone accounted for 33.3% relative cover while sandsage accounted for 42.4%. The large amount of cheatgrass in this area as opposed to the Osgood area may indicate either a historical difference in land use or a difference in the potential for rapid response to relief of grazing pressures. Both areas have been fenced since 1978. I am not sure what decisions MLRD has reached previously regarding these two areas, but I recommend that the Valent Area is unsuitable as a reference area due to the dominance of cheatgrass, an annual species, and the low quantities of perennial grasses. 215 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203-2273 Tel.(303) 866-3567