Laserfiche WebLink
cool season species were present, 2.6% of the relative cover was composed of three warm <br />season grasses and three warm season forbs. In 2007 no warm season grasses were <br />observed in the cover sampling. <br />Production <br />Herbaceous production in 2008 averaged 44.3 grams per one-half square meter which <br />calculates out to 790.6 pounds per acre. Table 7 shows the production values for 2008. <br />In 2007, the production was 1417 pounds per acre so again the lower precipitation in <br />2008 had an impact on herbaceous production. <br />CONCLUSIONS <br />The reclaimed area was quantitatively sampled to evaluate revegetation establishment for <br />the termination of jurisdiction. Statistical evaluations were calculated, as necessary to <br />evaluate the reclaimed area's cover and production for two consecutive years. The post <br />mining land use at the reclaimed mine site is rangeland. Land owners in the area have <br />grazed cattle on the reclamation for many years and this use has been established. <br />This reclaimed area has a mixture of perennial graminoid, forb and shrub species - <br />conducive to the post mining land use of rangeland. It is a self-regenerating and <br />permanent vegetation community. There are a number of introduced weed species, <br />including field bindweed, but none of the species from List A of the State Noxious weed <br />list or from the Las Animas County noxious weed list are evident. High production <br />values for the reclaimed area demonstrate the area's ability to provide the necessary <br />resources for plant success and the seeded plants' abilities to effectively utilize those <br />resources. <br />If the standards proposed by TBM in February 1992 were applied to the reclamation, the <br />2007 sampling effort would be considered successful. There was at least 32.0% absolute <br />vegetative cover. Species composition, based on relative cover, was at least 45% grasses, <br />35% fortis and 1% shrubs. Production measured at 1417 pounds per acre far exceeded <br />the proposed 400 pounds per acre. In 2008, the absolute vegetative cover of 28.4% was <br />less than 32.0%. However, the relative cover of grasses was at least 45%, forbs were at <br />least 35% and shrubs were greater than 1%. Production measured at 791 pounds per acre <br />exceeded the proposed standard of 400 pounds per acre. In 2008, all but the total <br />absolute vegetative cover would have been considered acceptable. One factor that was <br />not considered in the proposed standard was the precipitation. Since, 2008 was a low <br />precipitation year this lowered the overall cover and production values. The comparison <br />between the reclaimed area and the proposed standard does show that the reclamation is <br />close to the pre-mine cover, and the production on the reclamation far exceeds the pre- <br />mine vegetation community. The reclaimed area supports the post mine land use of <br />rangeland. <br />6