Laserfiche WebLink
. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Quantitative sampling of the Osgood sand reference area, the 1995 and 1997 reclamation <br />areas, the areas reseeded or interseeded in 1998, and the 1999 reclamation areas was <br />conducted in August 2003. Vegetation cover, herbaceous production, and species <br />composition were sampled. Comparisons were made between total vegetation cover and <br />total herbaceous production values from the Osgood sand reference area (which <br />establishes the final revegetation success criteria) and the revegetated areas. None of the <br />reclamation areas met the final revegetation success criterion for total vegetation cover. <br />All reclamation areas exceeded the final revegetation success criterion for herbaceous <br />production. Species composition of the reclamation areas was also evaluated from a final <br />success criterion perspective. Based on the current requirements of the mining and <br />reclamation permit, none of the reclamation areas would meet the species composition <br />success criterion. The Osgood sand reference area, the native vegetation community by <br />which the reclamation is evaluated, did not meet the species composition criterion. <br />Qualitative evaluation of the 1985, 1986, and 1987 reclamation areas indicated continued <br />successful growth of the vegetation. Areas seeded in the last three years showed typical <br />patterns of growth for early successional areas. Quarterly inspections of the reclamation <br />areas were conducted during 2003 to assess the presence and impacts of pests and disease <br />to the revegetation. No pests or diseases were identified during the 2003 inspections. <br />. 1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />This report presems the results of the annual revegetarion monitoring and pest and disease <br />inspections for the Keenesburg Mme (Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology permit <br />C-81-028) owned by Coors Energy Compa~+. Quantitative information in this report <br />addresses the vegetative condition of the Osgood sand reference area, the 1995, 1997, and <br />1999 reclamation areas, and the areas reseeded or intersceded in 1998 at the mine. The <br />1985, 1986, 1987, 2000, and 2002 reclamation areas were visually inspected and <br />evaluated for the same parameters as the above areas. Vegetative sampling is required by <br />the Colorado Division of Iv1merals and Geology (CDMG) as part of ongoing reclamation <br />monitoring. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined <br />Land Reclamation Board Surface Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15 and currem <br />botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling was conducted between August <br />18 and 27, 2003 by Savage and Savage, Inc. biologists. <br />The Keenesburg More is located in Weld County, Colorado, approximately seven (7) miles <br />north of Keenesburg, Colorado and is accessed by Weld County Road 59. Coors Energy <br />Company operated the Keenesburg Mme for coal extraction from 1980 to 1988. <br />Reclaimed areas sampled in 2003 were bacldilled, graded, topsoiled and revegetated in <br />accordance with the approved mining and reclamation plan. The revegetation standards <br />used to evaluate these areas are those currerrtly in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal <br />Mmirtg Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the Keenesburg Mining and <br />• Reclamation Permit (C-81-028). <br />CoorsErorgyCompary Page 1 <br />2003 Revegelatbn Monitoring Report <br />