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2.2.5 EP044 <br />EP044 is comprised of 24.6 acres of moderately <br />sloping revegetation that has a predominately east <br />aspect. This unit was seeded in 2003 and therefore, <br />has undergone four growing seasons prior to <br />sampling in 2007. A total of 24 plant taxa were <br />observed in the unit (see Table AB-i). Ground cover <br />in EP044 consisted of 79.3% live vegetation, 0.1% <br />rock, 14.4% litter, and bare soil exposure of 6.2%. <br />Perennial cover across the unit averaged 34.9% with <br />annual and biennial cover averaging a significant <br />44.4%. The dominant taxa were cheatgrass, <br />thickspike wheatgrass, Japanese brome, and <br />Kentucky bluegrass with 31.1%, 18.8%, 9.2%, and <br />5.0% average cover, respectively. Woody plant <br />density was determined from 15 belt transects. <br />Density (Table 2) totaled 0 young and mature stems <br />per acre. With regard to diversity, EP044 exhibited S <br />perennial grasses and 0 perennial forts with <br />between 3% and 50% relative cover. <br />\`;~ <br />~~ <br />'~ I <br />ti ® ® ~Dl ~~ <br />~O ® O O O O <br />- .. <br />O O ;O~?O_,.~ <br />t - <br />L- •. <br />R1 C~l~tgfJil don~lnallt <br />C <br />Mw Ravpeuegn <br />Noxious weeds appear to be controlled in this `°°" •- - - ~ ~ --- - <br />unit. Annual bromes presently dominate this unit <br />with 40.3% cover and should be carefully monitored <br />in the coming years. If monitoring reveals continued expansion, use of the herbicide Plateau is strongly <br />recommended in conjunction with spot reseeding. Otherwise, this unit may need extensive remediation. <br />Overall, Unit EP044 should be monitored closely to evaluate if intervention is needed to facilitate progress <br />toward bond release. <br />Rio Tinto Energy America/Colowyo Mine Page 22 Revegetation Monitoring - 2007 <br />