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8. Figure 2.05-5 is somewhat difficult to interpret due to the small scale and associated lack of detail. <br />Also, there appears to be only 60 acres of potential steppe habitat depicted within the South Taylor <br />disturbance area, and half or more of the South Taylor acreage is not even included in the diagram, <br />despite the fact that the Division's understanding was that the primary focus of revegetation in the <br />South Taylor revision area would be shrubland/wildlife habitat. If the reason for the limited acreage <br />of steppe habitat is the imposed 10% slope limit, it may be appropriate to increase the slope limit for <br />steppe habitat up to 15%, and decrease the imposed lower size limit for steppe parcels. <br />a) Please submit a larger scale map to replace Figure 2.05-5. Map 41A and corresponding map <br />for the original permit area with drainage features depicted, would be appropriate as a base, to <br />allow for meaningful interpretation. <br />b) The erosion concern regarding shrub establishment on the steeper slopes could be addressed through <br />some combination of more intensive use of contour furrows, chiseling, or other such measures, <br />construction of additional headwater tributary drainage channels to shorten slope lengths, use of strip <br />seeding (banding) with alternating sequence of the grass mix and steppe mix, use of stubble mulch, <br />weed-free straw or wood strand mulch to provide ground cover prior to perennial establishment, etc. <br />Please revise the plan to provide substantial additional acreage of shrub steppe/wildlife habitat <br />within the South Taylor revision area. <br />Colowyo's Response: <br />a) Map 44 has been created to address this concern. Colowyo believes sufficient area qualifies <br />for evaluation of potential sagebrush steppe habitat using the < 10% criteria for preliminary <br />identification. Criteria that would cause an identified area to not be prepared and seeded <br />for sagebrush establishment include relative location (bottom of valley floors), small areas <br />(<5 acres), long slopes requiring strip seeding of the grazingland mix for erosional stability, <br />and a reasonable/pessimistic rule of thumb of 50% success on the areas seeded to sagebrush <br />steppe due to the vagaraties of nature on any given year). <br />b) Contour furrows will be established on a regular practical basis on long slopes, especially <br />those slopes greater than 10%. Contour furrows will also be implemented in a prudent <br />manner on larger sagebrush steppe areas in order to increase the actual acres seeded to this <br />specific mix. <br />Colowyo made it a point to increase drainage diversity through the use of Natural Regrade <br />® software during the most recent PMT modification approved in 2007. Colowyo does not <br />feel it is practical to attempt to engineer additional drainage diversity at this time. <br />Due to the seed bed characteristics required to maximize potential shrub establishment, <br />surface roughness on sagebrush steppe seeded areas will be less than previously encountered <br />in pre-2008 reclamation. That is why Colowyo believes it would not be beneficial to attempt <br />to establish sagebrush steppe in areas greater than 10% slope through initial seeding efforts. <br />Colowyo is expecting to see the establishment of ecotonal and eventual shrub core area <br />within the grazingland component of the reclamation which will in turn be mapped and count <br />towards fulfillment of the overall shrub establishment standards for Phase III Bond Release. <br />Please refer to Map 44 for the revised Potential Sagebrush Steppe Areas locations.