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i. As delineated under Subsections 4.15.7 and 2.05.4, Colowyo will establish reference areas <br />for the purpose of comparing vegetation information between the reclaimed area and the <br />undisturbed area. <br />Herbaceous Cover <br />Herbaceous cover of the revegetated area will be considered adequate for final bond release if <br />it is not less than 90% of the cover as determined from the reference areas with a 90% <br />statistical confidence. <br />A higher percentage of herbaceous cover is not practical or desirable for the following <br />reasons: <br />1. It is well documented that in the mountain shrub zone the establishment of shrubs to <br />reach bond release levels has proven to be very difficult. Perhaps the most <br />detrimental condition effecting shrub establishment is the competition from <br />herbaceous vegetation. At a minimum herbaceous cover levels should approximate <br />the premining condition. If the herbaceous levels to be obtained were set higher than <br />the premining condition, the ability to achieve bond release levels for shrubs would <br />be most adversely effected. Higher levels of herbaceous cover would out compete <br />the woody vegetation and hinder its successful establishment. <br />2. In the mountain shmb zone it is important to have adequate herbaceous cover to <br />• provide for erosion control. The reference areas at Colowyo indicate herbaceous <br />cover values of 41.8% and 30.17% for the mountain shrub and sage reference areas, <br />respectively. <br />Colowyo is located at approximately- 7,300 feet in elevation. The period of highest <br />potential erosion occurs in the springtime during snowmelt. At this time of year, <br />erosion control is provided almost exclusively by the herbaceous vegetation. Erosion <br />control by the shrub cover is virtually insignificant since the potential erosion occurs <br />from snowmelt rather than raindrop impact. Therefore, if pre-mining levels of <br />herbaceous vegetative cover can be re-established, logically a comparable level of <br />erosion control will be achieved. <br />3. The ability to achieve adequate levels of herbaceous cover a Colowyo is, without <br />question, quite possible. The vegetative monitoring completed at Colowyo during the <br />last few years, and summarized in the Annual Reports, indicates that the premining <br />levels of herbaceous cover are easily achieved. <br />C~ <br />4.15-18 <br />