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2007 Climax Mine Tree Planting Report <br />2006 Transplants <br />In 2006, 489 trees were planted on Robinson Tailings pond (181), in McNulty Gulch <br />(26), along Billy Blvd (99), around E-Dump (101) and along the haul road (82). In tota1477 <br />Engelmann spruce, 11 Subalpine fir, and 1 lodgepole pine were transplanted. Three shrubby <br />cinquefoil were also transplanted. After 1 year 97% of all trees and 100% of shrubs were still <br />alive (Table 5). <br />Table 5: 2006 transplant summary <br /> 2006 2006 <br />Trees # Planted # Alive # Dead % Survival <br />Engelmann Spruce <br />Subalpine Fir <br />Lodgepole Pine 477 <br />11 <br />1 461 <br />11 <br />0 16 <br />0 <br />1 97% <br />100% <br />0% <br />Total Trees 489 47' 17 97°Io <br />Shrubs <br />Cinquefoil 3 3 0 100% <br />Total Shrubs 3 3 0 IOO~ic <br />Total Transplants 492 475 17 97% <br />No trees showed elk damaged the year they were planted; however, 11 spruce trees (2%) <br />showed some elk damage the second year. After 1 year 7% of living trees had greater than 50% <br />needle death (18% of firs and 7% of spruces, Table 6). The average tree had 18% needle death <br />(15% spruce, 38% fir). While most needle death on trees planted in 2005 was attributed to sun <br />scalding, the same was not true for those planted in 2006. There were no obvious patterns of <br />needle death, thus it is likely due to shock of transplanting or other environmental factors. <br />Among trees planted in 2005 there was much greater dieback of firs than spruces, this same trend <br />seems to hold true in 2006. Firs were still taller on average than spruces (Figure 2) and needle <br />death was greater in taller trees (Figure 4); however, as it was not obviously due to sun scalding <br />on the tops of trees this trend is not as easily explained. Taller trees have a small root ball <br />proportional to their size, than smaller trees, thus it may just be that these trees do not have quite <br />as much reserves and are slightly more susceptible to shock during transplanting. Overall, this <br />does not seem to be a large problem as only 7% of trees experienced significant needle loss. <br />Table 6: Needle Death by Species <br /> 2007 <br /> >50% <50% Average <br />Species # % # % /'T'ree <br />Engelmann Spruce <br />Subalpine Fir 32 7% 429 93% <br />2 18% 9 82% 15% <br />38% <br />Total 34 7°~0 438 93% 18% <br />Habitat Management, Inc. 7 December 2007 <br />