2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (160)

Home Browse Search

manner, reclamation and resultant developing communities will be encouraged. to follow a more natural path to maturation and` successional progression, as opposed to more historically utilized grassland ,conducive approaches that should only be utilized on the remaining 80%; of reclaimed ground (slopes). It would be prudent when developing the reclamation plan, to include management and revegetation specifications (shrub species in the seed mix) for use on the dominant "grassland" target areas that would also facilitate shrub establishment when climatic conditions are favorable. In this manner,, small patches of additional "inexpensive".shrubland can be established that will provide additional habitat diversity, especially for sage grouse. However, since this type of reclamation is entirely dependent on the vagaries of nature, we cannot depend on these techniques elsewhere. Remaining Success Criteria and Monitoring Based on past experience, it is not anticipated that there will be any significant difficulty in obtaining sufficient ground cover, production, or diversity (assuming similar. success comparison approaches) for bond release at Collom. The only possible exception may be for the PERA "20% areas" where significant anti-grass techniques will be employed. For these areas, my suggestion would be to offer a 20% reduction from reference area values as the target success criteria, or use the target "sage grouse" reference area established during the Summer of 2005. With regard to post-seeding monitoring, the current plan calls for monitoring during years 1, 2, 4, and 7 of each seeded unit using managerial level efforts except for ground cover evaluations. This would appear to be appropriate with the addition of the language that would add "every third year thereafter until Phase III bond release" following year 7 monitoring. Furthermore, data generated by such monitoring should be utilized once every five years (at permit renewal), to modify and update as necessary revegetation protocols, success criteria, and bond release procedures as necessary. In addition, permanent plots need to be established to hopefully document a "positive recruitment rate" for reclaimed shrub stands. Weed Management The revised Colorado regulations now incorporate by reference, Colorado's Weed Management Act. Therefore, we need to develop a specific section of the reclamation plan to monitoring and control procedures to be utilized during operations and reclamation. This activity is of special significance given the existing baseline levels of several species of noxious weeds noted across the Collom permit area. It may be reasonable to request input from the operators of Allen Weed Spraying (current weed management contractor for Colowyo). CCzHDAIR CCRZiEK Ass CI[Ams, INC. Steven R. Viert E CIEUDAR IP3IEMKASWCHATMO, INC. Page 53 2005 Collom Vegetation Survey