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With the reduced seeding rate and the lack of aggressive species that establish quickly it was necessary to consider erosion control on the treatment plots. Surface roughening using a dozer to create depressions was included on several of the treatments. This treatment slows erosion and the depressions create microhabitats that may enhance shrub establishment. These demonstration plots are large-scale plots constructed with standard reclamation equipment to test shrub establishment techniques that will have commercial practicality. At each mine, six treatments are being evaluated. The treatments vary slightly between mines to accommodate the reclamation techniques and material availability at each mine. Test plots for each treatment range in size from 100 x 100 R at the Seneca Mine to 60 x 1000 ft at the Colowyo Mine. All seeded plots were drill- seeded using standard equipment. At Colowyo Mine, no chains or other devises were used behind the drill. This was done to create a broad range of conditions from buried seed to seed laying on the surface. Colowyo Mine The test plots at Colowyo are located in the East Pit, Section 11 area (UTM 13T 261304 4458557} at an average elevation of 7480 feet. The selected site for the test plots has a northeast aspect. The plots are located adjacent to each other in one contiguous block. Each treatment measures GO ft wide and 1000 ft long (Figure 1). To alleviate soil compaction caused by scraper and truck traffic on the plots, the non-topsoiled plots were ripped with a motor grader to a depth of 15 to 25 cm. After ripping, the non- topsoiled plots and the 15 crrr topsoil plots were chisel plowed to smooth the areas. The study area was then fertilized with 11-52-0 fertilizer at a rate of 375 lbs per acre. After fertilization, the entire study area was chisel plowed to incorporate the fertilizer. A description of each treatment is presented below. 1. 18 inches (46 cm) of live-haul topsoil over spoil with strip seeding. The strip seeding included a strip of native shrubs and native low~ompetitive forts that alternated with a strip of native • grasses, forts, and shrubs. The seed mixtures for this treatrnent are presented in Tables 1 and 2. The Table 1 mixture was placed in the left grass box of the rangeland drill, and the Table 2 mix was placed in the right grass box. 2. 6 inches (15 cm) of live haul topsoil over spoil and seeded with native shrubs and low- competitive native forts. Surface manipulations included to enhance soil moisture conditions. The seed mixture for this treatment is presented in Table 1. 3. 6 inches (15 cm) of live-haul topsoil over spoil, strip seeded as described in No. I above. 4. Non-topsoiled spoil, strip seeded as described in No. 1 above. 5. Non-topsoiled spoil seeded with relatively unpalatable native shrubs, low-competitive native forts, and low~ompetifive native grasses. See Table 3 for the seed mixture used in this treatment. Construction of the plots was conducted in the summer of 2000 (Figure 2) and seeding was completed in October 2000. Fencing of half the study area was completed in the spring of 2002. •