Laserfiche WebLink
INTRODUCTION <br />In 1983, the revegetation plan (or Sun Coal Company's Meadows No. 1 Mine (Permit C-029-81) <br />was revised. According to the modified plan, vegetation monitoring mtut he periodically conducted to <br />evaluate the success of revegetation efforts. This monitoring is to consist of quantitative assessments of <br />cover, production, and woody plant density and qualitative assessments of species present, diversity, and <br />condition and trend of the revegetatcd area. Specifically, vegetation monitoring is to occur 2, 4, and 7 years <br />after seeding of the site (Savage ]9S3). The present survey was undertaken because the reclaimed mine pit <br />'~ was seeded in 1984 and the fourth-year revegetation assessment corresponds to 1988. <br />A reconnaissance survey of the revegetatcd area was conducted on 5 September 1985. Vegetative <br />cover and species diversity were qualitatively estimated. Vegetative cover ranged from approximately ]0 to <br />20 percent. Overall, the dominant species observed include Bronrus spp., Agro/ivron spp., and Asnagalus titer. <br />Additional species noted include Cirsiunr spp., Fesrucn spp., and SnLsoln knli. Lncruca semoln was locally <br />abundant in an almost shrubby form on the slope below the bench. Aside from the transplanted stands of <br />Prunes virginianus, no observations of woody plants was made. The stands of Prunes virginianus were <br />reported az appearing to have not survived transplantation. <br />Vegetation sampling for the present monitoring was conducted on 5 - 7 September 1988. The <br />objectives of the survey, as directed by the revegetation plan, were to quantitatively estimate total vegetative <br />cover, herbaceous production, and woody plant density. In addition, plant species diversity, and the general <br />~ condition and trend of site vegetation were to be qualitatively assessed. <br />Results of the sampling indicate revegetation of the mine pit is progressing. Vegetative cover has <br />increazed about two- to five-fold, from 10 to 20 percent to approximately 56 percent. Plant species diversity <br />also appears to be increasing. Approximately 30 species were identified, including 10 species that were not <br />pan of the applied seed matures (five of these species are generally considered noxious weeds). The <br />herbaceous production in 19SS was estimated at about 550 pounds per acre with perennial grasses accounting <br />for most of the yield. 1,4ean woody plant density waz still low with about 20 stems per acre. <br /> <br />