REP42693

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 1/14/1999
• Doc Name: SENECA II ANNUAL REVEGETATION REPORT REVIEW PN C-80-005
• From: DMG
• To: MIKE BOULAY
• Permit Index Doc Type: ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
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DATE: January 14, 1999
TO: Mike Boulay ~
FROM: Dan Mathews i~'
1
RE: Seneca II Annual Revegetation Report Review
Permit No. C-80-005
I have reviewed the Seneca II 1997 Revegetation Monitoring Report, dated April, 1998, and the 1997
Shrub Establishment Monitoring Report dated January ?8, 1998. I have some general comments, and I
also have identified certain apparent deficiencies (see Items 1 - 4 under "Missing Information").
1997 Reveeetation Monitoring Report
In this report, the operator submitted results and interpretation of 1997 vegetation cover, production, and
woody plant density sampling conducted within reclaimed units initially seeded in 1990, as well as
corresponding data from the Mountain Brush and Sagebrush Reference Areas. In addition, shrub density
data for the Wadge Pasture reclamation area was submitted. The data was collected using a two stage
sampling procedure which allowed for attainnten[ of sample size adequacy with significantly fewer
quadrats than would be required for simple random sampling. This approach may have widespread
applicability for sampling woody plant density on reclaimed lands.
Introduced Species. Species Diversity and Woody Plan[ Establishment
The Discussion section on page 21 of the report notes that introduced perennial fortis and grasses account
for 70% of the relative vegetation cover in the 1990 reclamation. The narrative points out that titer
milkvetch increased in relative cover from 4.9% in 1994 to 14.1°6 in 1997, and that alfalfa increased from
6.2% relative cover to 13. I °6 relative cover. Tne noxious weed, Canada thistle, decreased slightly from
5.5% to 4%, over the period. The section concludes with the following paragraph:
The aggressiveness of non-native species has repeatedly demonstrated [he ability to
overwhelm native species in Seneca 11 reclaimed areas. The utility of any non-native
species in the long-term goals of the reclamation needs [o be carefully examined in
light of the probability that even small amounts of non-natives in original seed mixes
will lead to non-native dominance as they continue year after year to overwhelm
natives.
~~'~~'
DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL
RESOURCES
Roy Romrr
Guvernor
lames 5 Lo~hhead
Exrwiwe Direunr
hLCharIB Lunb
Division Director
The 1990 reclamation easily surpasses permit standards for cover and herbaceous production, but as
typically has been the case for areas seeded with the general upland seedmix, the estimated woody plant
densZy mean is well below the permit standard (184 stems per acre reclaimed, vs. 1000 stems per acre
standard). While average total species density for the reclaimed area approaches reference area values (30
species/100 sq. m. for the reclaimed area vs. 36 to 38 species/100 sq. m. for the reference areas), three
seeded introduced species, intermediate wheatgrass, titer milkvetch, and alfalfa, account for close to 50%
of the relative cover. These aggressive, highly productive, and persistent species undoubtedly contribute to
the high production levels on the reclaimed area, but provide excessive competition for less aggressive
native species, particularly woody plants.
STATE OF COLORADO