Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />~,- car ~r~r <br />~,. iMm*1 erg - c,~a,~a P~ <br />AVAIl118LE FORAGE AND CARRYING CAPACITY <br />Forage production for reclaimed areas as estimated and reported in <br />Kerr's 1988 Annual Redamation Report varied from 750 to 1620 lbs. of air <br />dried forage per acre. At Kerr's request, Mr. C.J. Mucklow, the Routt <br />County 6ctension Agent, accompanied by F~ctension Agents from <br />Jackson and Grand Counties, visited the mine on 19 June 1991. During <br />the mine visit the Mr. Mucklow estimated production for both recaimed <br />and native range areas within the proposed management area <br />(Observations and recommendations from the site visit are documented <br />by Attachment A to this Plan). Production was estimated at 900 to 1100 <br />lbs. dry matter per acre (Average, 1000 lbs. DM per acre) for reclaimed <br />areas and 350 to 600 lbs. DM per acre (Average, 450 lbs. DM per acre) <br />for native range. <br />Based upon production estimates, useable forage, estimated at 50 <br />percent of total forage to provide for sustainable grazing and maintenance <br />of adequate ground cover, was calculated as follows: <br />Reclaimed Areas: <br />(1000 lbs./acre) * (105 acres) " (0.50) = 52,500 lbs. <br />Native Range: <br />(450 lbs./acre) • (55 acres) • (0.50) = 12,375 lbs. <br />Total Useable Forage: <br />(52,500) + (12,375) = 64,875 lbs. <br />Given the a conservative Animal Unit Month (AUM, One cow/calf unit for <br />30 days) requirement of 750 lbs. DM, total useable forage for. the <br />proposed management area will support 86 AUM's. <br />The Mr. Mucklow recommended that the maximum number of animal <br />3 <br />