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• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Quantitative sampling of the Osgood sand reference azea, the 1995 and 1997 reclamation <br />areas, and the areas reseeded or interseeded in 1998 was conducted in August 1999. <br />Vegetation cover, herbaceous production, and species composition were the parameters <br />sampled. Comparisons were made between total vegetation cover and total herbaceous <br />production values from the Osgood sand reference area (which establishes the final <br />revegetation success criteria) and the revegetated areas. The 1995 reclamation areas and <br />the 1998 reseeded or interseeded areas met the final revegetation success criterion for <br />vegetation cover. The 1995 and 1997 reclamation areas and the 1998 reseeded or <br />interseeded areas met the final revegetation success criterion for herbaceous production. <br />Species composition of the reclamation areas was also evaluated from a final success <br />criterion perspective. Based on the current requirements of the mining and reclamation <br />permit, none of the reclamation areas would meet the species composition success <br />criterion. The Osgood sand reference area, the native vegetation community by which the <br />reclamation is evaluated, does not meet the species composition criterion. Qualitative <br />evaluation of the 1985, 1986, and 1987 reclamation areas indicated continued successful <br />growth of the vegetation. Quarterly inspections of the reclamation areas were conducted <br />during 1999 to assess the presence and impacts of pests and disease to the revegetation. <br />No pests or diseases were identified during the 1999 inspections. <br />• <br />I. INTRODUCTION <br />This report presents the results of the annual revegetation monitoring and pest and disease <br />inspections for the Keenesburg Mine (Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology permit <br />C-81-028) owned by Coors Energy Company. Quantitative information in this report <br />addresses the vegetative condition of the Osgood sand reference azea, the 1995 and 1997 <br />reclamation areas, and the areas reseeded or interseeded in 1998 at the mine. The 1985, <br />1986, and 1987 reclamation areas were visually inspected and evaluated for the same <br />parameters as the above areas. Vegetative sampling is required by the Colorado Division <br />of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) as part of ongoing reclamation monitoring. Vegetation <br />sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />Surface Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15 and current botanical and plant ecological <br />methods. Field sampling was conducted between July 27 and 30, 1999 by Savage and <br />Savage, Inc. staff. <br />The Keenesburg Mine 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 Mine for coal extraction from 1980 to 1988. <br />Reclaimed areas sampled in 1999 were backfilled, 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 currently in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal <br />• Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seg) and the Keenesburg Mining and <br />Reclamation Permit (C-81-028). <br />-1- <br />