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establishment of weedy annuals. This happened when the topsoil was spread across the location. <br />The only plants growing on the windrows were cheatgrass and Russian thistle resulting primarily <br />from their seed bank in the topsoil pile. The only place the plant species used in the reclaim seed <br />mix established was in the interspaces between windrows. <br />After looking at the results of the reclaim done on wells lA-4HI, 3A-4H and 4-3H, it is <br />recommended that 93-3V be re-done. The other three (3) locations have good survival and <br />distribution of plant species used in the seed mix; all three (3) locations lack any significant <br />amount of cheatgrass. However, there was a significant amount of Russian thistle in places on <br />the three (3) locations, but the seeded perennial species will out-compete the thistle over time. In <br />addition, at all three locations, the topsoil was spread evenly (no windrows) and fumed by dozer <br />tracks. Most of the surviving plants used in the reclaim seed mix established in the cleat marks of <br />the dozer tracks. <br />Recommendation for 93-3V: It is recommended that the 93-3V location be redisturbed by: <br />redistributing the windrowed topsoil to create a fumer seedbed; firm the seed bed with dozer <br />tracks running up and down the slope, which will leave the track cleat marks on the contour of <br />the slope; and broadcast the seed mix across the location as soon as the dozer leaves. This allows <br />the seed in the cleat mazks to be covered with soil with rain or snow melt. It is also <br />recommended that straw mulch be used on the site after the seeding is completed. <br />Even after the additional reclamation work on this site, cheatgrass will remain a problem <br />problem. It is possible that the second seeding could fail as a result of the cheatgrass, If so, the <br />site may need to fallow for a yeaz by use of either a chemical or mechanical treatment or <br />treatments to prevent seed production from cheatgrass and other annual weeds. <br />Reclaim at Well 2B-3C: This location has an excellent response of the species seeded on the <br />site. There is only a minimal amount of Russian thistle and no cheatgrass. The cover of forb <br />species seeded is neazly equal to the cover of perennial grasses. Shrub cover is light but should <br />increase as the four-wing saltbush and rabbitbrush become older. <br />Recommendation for Well 2B-3C: No additional reclamation work is necessary. It is <br />recommended that the fence remain around the site for a couple more yeazs. <br />Reclaim at Well 3A-4A and 4-3H: The two well pads were reclaimed at the same time with a <br />protection fence enclosing both locations. Both locations have a good survival of the species <br />seeded. There was an excellent survival and response of four-wing saltbush over the entire <br />reclaimed area. Also, the fortis and grasses seeded have a very good distribution across both <br />sites. There is a lot of Russian thistle across both sites, but it will eventually decline from the <br />competition which will result as the fortis and grasses become older and increase in cover. <br />There is a noticeable lack of any cheatgrass. It appeazs that the topsoil had been spread evenly to <br />create a firm seedbed. It was noticeable that the forb and grasses had germinated and established <br />in the dozer cleat marks. <br />2007 Annual Report 16 of 18 <br />