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shrub planting sites, the reclaimed areas are seeded with a predominantly native and diverse mix of grasses, <br />forbs and shrubs. Shrub and aspen seedlings are planted in select sites of varying dimensions and acreages <br />within the reclaimed areas. <br />Development of Techniques to Establish Woody Plants <br />The reclaimed land at Seneca IIW, Seneca II, and Yoast mines are highly productive, diverse, and provide a <br />high level of utility for the intended land uses. Grasses and forbs grow in abundance providing ample <br />livestock and wildlife forage. One challenge faced by the reclamation team is the re-establishment of woody <br />plants, especially aspen, lulus tremuloides. In 2000, 2004, and 2008 Seneca Coal Company, the Colorado <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, the US Forest Service, Colorado State University and the Office <br />of Surface Mining ventured together to study techniques for establishing aspen and native mountain shrubs <br />on the mined land at the Seneca Mining Complex A summary of the 2000, 2004, and 2008 research efforts <br />and results follow. Study reports supporting this research are presented in Appendix II through IV. <br />2000 Research <br />The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) sponsored this study to evaluate native shrub <br />establishment on reclaimed lands. Two main limitations to shrub establishment at Colorado reclaimed mines <br />are browsing and competition from aggressive herbaceous species. The goal of this Shrub Establishment <br />Study is to evaluate methods for providing enhanced wildlife habitat after mining. The first phase of this <br />study included a comprehensive literature review, which was submitted to CDMG in June, 2000. The <br />literature review covered the biology, ecology, and propagation of seven species that are of primary <br />importance for wildlife habitat in Colorado. This review was published in the journal Land degradation and <br />development in 2003. <br />The second phase of the project involved a field study to evaluate reclamation techniques to overcome these <br />obstacles. The experimental design used large-scale demonstration plots that were constructed with normal <br />reclamation equipment to test shrub establishment techniques that have commercial practicality. Plots were <br />established at three surface mines (Colowyo, Trapper and Seneca) in northwestern Colorado. Several <br />treatments were tested to evaluate shrub establishment on spoil material, 15 cm of topsoil, and 46 cm of <br />topsoil. Plots were strip seeded with native seed mixes, alternating rows of herbaceous species and shrub <br />species. Native shrub transplants were planted at one mine. Half of each treatment was fenced to prevent <br />browsing. Plots were installed in 2000. <br />Results of the study to date indicate that timing of seeding operations can greatly effect shrub establishment <br />in this region. However, seeds may remain viable for several years resulting in delayed establishment of <br />seeded shrub species. The use of shrub transplants may increase initial success, but the documented success <br />of seeding for Sagebrush observed at Colowyo mine relative to Seneca mine illustrate the potential utility of <br />this less-costly approach. The study has revealed that initial shrub establishment appears to be favored by <br />fencing to exclude big game. However, the long-term potential of shrubs that have established outside the <br />fence is unknown. Lesser amounts of topsoil (15 cm) appear to be better for shrub establishment relative to <br />deeper topsoil treatments (50 cm). <br />Continued monitoring of the demonstration plots will be critical to make meaningful evaluations of these <br />treatments as many effects may not become apparent for several more years as plant communities progress <br />from an early-seral to mid- or late-seral conditions. <br />0