Laserfiche WebLink
,~ Effects of Grazing in the Wadpe Pasture Unit <br />As of the 1993 sampling, it had been five years since grazing began in the Wadge Pasture. As <br />mentioned in the 1990 Revegetation Monitoring Report, there had been a decline in cover and <br />production in the sampled reclaimed and reference areas during the period of 1987 to 1989, <br />followed by a modest rebound in 1990. In 1991, cover rebounded further as it did in all <br />reclaimed areas, but whereas the overall reclaimed area cover increased by slightly over 5 <br />percent cover, the Wadge Pasture cover rose by slightly over 13 percent cover. Thus the trend <br />of this grazed area, as cited in earlier Seneca II Revegetation Monitoring Reports, to have cover <br />values higher than ungrazed areas, both in times of overall increase as well as in times of <br />general decrease, continued in 1991. In 1992, there was a slight decrease in cover, in line <br />with the decrease observed in all areas. In 1993, cover increased in Wadge Pasture by over <br />four percent, compared with about two and one-half percent over all reclaimed areas. As of <br />1993, the Wadge Pasture has cover values approximately 15 percent higher than the oldest <br />(1986) reclamation measured. <br />In 1993, production levels in the Wadge Pasture were higher than in any other reclaimed area <br />sampled by ESCO beiween 1987 and 1993 at the Seneca II Mine. It is of interest that while <br />cover rose by about 20 percent between 1990 and 1991, herbaceous production increased by <br />less than 5 percent. Between 1991 and 1992, cover fell by about 7 percent while production <br />rose by 10 percent. Between 1992 and 1993, cover increased by about 6 percent and <br />production rose by 13 percent. <br />This trend was generally observable throughout the reclamation, and might be explained by an <br />expansion of perennial grasses by tillers and rhizomes into areas left open from the drought. <br />The above-ground shoots from such widespread tillers or rhizomes are not likely to have much <br />biomass initially, so relatively little effect would be shown in production while ground cover <br />increased more noticeably in 1991. In 1992, consolidation of gains in areas occupied by <br />grasses during 1991 may have taken place as plants sent up tall culms from the strongest new <br />shoots, resulting in lower cover values, but higher production as the stout and tall new culms <br />developed. In 1993, favorable growing conditions may have accompanied not only renewed <br />circumferential growth (increased cover) but also continued increased height growth <br />(increased production). <br /> <br />31 <br />