REP21701

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 1/19/1999
• Doc Name: 1998 Reclamation & Shrub Establishment Studies at Seneca II & Seneca IIW Mines
• Permit Index Doc Type: Reveg Monitoring Report
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

' INTRODUCTION
A focus of Seneca Coal Company's reclamation program has been the re-establishment of woody
' plants found in the mountain shrub community type. Past attempts at re-establishing these
woody plants have achieved limited success and a number of factors have been identified which
influence plant survival. A series of studies have been initiated in order to evaluate techniques
' which will improve shrub and tree establishment on the site. This report summarizes work to
date. The report is organized into sections which provide complete reports related to the
following studies: 1) Section A: Annual Report on Shrub Establishment Monitoring; 2) Section
B: Annual Report on Topsoil Depth and Shrub Establishment Study; and 3) Section C:
Mycorrhizae Benefits Study. A brief summary of the objectives is found below.

i~
Section A: Shrub Establishment Monitoring
Since 1995, shrub establishment monitoring has been conducted on a number of existing and
newly established woody plant establishment plots at the Seneca II Mine and Seneca II-W Mine.
The purpose of long-term monitoring is:
To estimate shrub density within the woody plant establishment azeas;
To estimate grass and forb seedling density or cover within the plot;
~ To track stem density within the plots to determine if reclamation standazds will be met;
To provide recommendations which will improve woody plant establishment.
Section B: Topsoil Depth and Shrub Establishment Study
The Topsoil Depth and Shrub Establishment Study is being conducted to determine the effect of
topsoil application on establishment of Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Chokecherry
(Prunus virginiana), and Gambel's Oak (Quercus gambelii). These same species aze planted on
anon-topsoiled site (graded spoil). Topsoil application potentially limits plant establishment by
encouraging plant competition and providing a substrate which may be inappropriate for the
species planted. Objectives of this study aze:
To determine the effect of topsoil and no topsoil applications on the survivai and
establishment of shrubs, and;
~ To recommend whether topsoil application is advisable on woody plant establishment
azeas.
This report documents the final results of the study.
Section C: Mycorrhizae Benefits Study
In the Fall of 1997, a study was initiated to evaluate the benefits of mycorrhizal versus non-
mycorrhizal plant materials under reclamation field conditions and to determine the effectiveness
of two separate inoculation techniques. The objectives of this study are:
To evaluate the survival and growth benefits of inoculated plant materials; and
~ To determine which of the inoculation methods tested provides greater colonization.
Final results are reported.