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Laydown Areas <br />As discussed in the introduction, the laydown areas were stable and productive. They showed <br />good cover and would be beneficial for the post-mine land use. However, many of the sites <br />appeared to be presently lacking in species and growth form diversity when compared to <br />Deserado's current diversity criteria. Several of the sites appeared to be maturing and <br />increasing in diversity by natural dispersion from adjacent lands. However, other sites are <br />heavily dominated by single persistent species. On these sites adequate dispersion from <br />adjacent lands to meet the diversity criteria may not be possible within a reasonable time <br />frame. Therefor, various intervening management practices may be necessary to generate a <br />more diverse plant community. <br />South side of railroad loop between drainage and tracks -west of conveyor <br />This site is essentially a pure stand of Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus). Prairie dogs have <br />started to inhabit the area. [t is very stable and productive. However, diversity is lacking. <br />This would be a good candidate for spraying/interseeding trials. It is unlikely that diversity <br />criteria will be achieved in the reasonably near future without introducing different <br />management practices. <br />North of Slot Storage Pond 2 (SS-21. west of conveyor and south of drainaee <br />Two introduced grasses, Russian wildrye and Desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertor:m:) <br />dominate this site. Some Western wheatgrass (,9. smithii) also was observed in limited <br />amounts throughout the site. It is not known if the Western wheatgrass is volunteer or seeded. <br />Volunteer Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) plants and beginning to invade the site to a <br />limited extent. This site is very stable and productive. As with the site above, diversity is <br />lacking. However, there are signs that adjacent species are beginning to establish. <br />East of conveyor access road, south-east of railroad loop and north-east of Slot Storage <br />This site is dominated by three grasses; Desert wheatgrass, Intermediate wheatgrass (A. <br />internrediurn), and Western wheatgrass. Three shrub species were observed on the site; <br />Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canesens), Rubber rabbi[brush (Chryso[hamnus nauseosus), and <br />Big sagebrush. Alone musk thistle plant was observed on the north slope (previously sprayed <br />