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that had been replaced after surface mining. However, circumstances allowed us to expand the <br />original study design to collect growth and survival data from: <br />1) Aspen sprouts transplanted from a nearby mine, placed in two topsoil types within a fenced <br />area and drip irrigated at three watering levels with an un-watered control; <br />2) Un-watered sprouts arising from aspen root segments that had been transported into the fenced <br />area in the two top soil types; <br />3) Commercially grown potted aspen seedlings that were planted in a nearby fenced area, and; <br />4) Natural aspen sprouts growing in an un-mined area in the vicinity that was not fenced and <br />subject to grazing effects of ungulates on growth and survival of aspen sprouts. <br />Design and Methods -The initial project was a case study of the effectiveness of irrigation <br />treatment on the survival, growth, and water status of aspen cuttings planted on a site of <br />reclaimed land of the Seneca Coal Company II-W mine south of Hayden, Colorado. The <br />irrigated portion of the study was designed to measure the effect of supplemental irrigation on <br />aspen saplings that had been transplanted from a naturally regenerating un-mined site on the <br />nearby (<3 km) Yoast mine where the original forest was being cleared in preparation for <br />mining. Aspen saplings between 1-2 m in height were selected from this site at the end of the <br />growing season in 2004 and pruned to leave only the uppermost branches intact. <br />In October, 2004, these saplings were dug using a small backhoe and immediately transplanted <br />into augered holes that had been prepared at the fenced planting site at the II-W mine. All <br />cuttings were presumed to be from the same genetic clone since they were collected from the <br />same area. Trees were planted in eight blocks consisting of five rows of ten trees, (50 trees total) <br />spaced on a 1.5 m x 1.5 m grid (Figure 2). Four blocks were placed in each of two types of <br />topsoil that had been removed from areas being prepared for surface mining. <br />Roto-cleared topsoil had the original vegetation on the site chopped and mixed into the top 4 <br />inches of topsoil prior to removal and replacement on the plantation site. Dozer cleared soils had <br />all above-ground vegetation bladed aside for disposal prior to removal and storage before <br />replacement on the plantation site. The dozer cleared soil used in this study had been stored for a <br />few months, as indications of decay were present and few weeds initially grew in this soil. Both <br />soil types were from aspen stands, contained aspen roots and were placed to a depth of <br />approximately 1 m on the plantation site. The soils were spread by scraper in the late summer of <br />2003, and were final graded in May/June of 2004, prior to aspen planting in October, 2004. <br />Water was delivered during the 2005 growing season by drip irrigation to the transplanted aspen <br />saplings via a computer-controlled system that timed the daily application of water through <br />calibrated emitters. The four water treatments (high, medium, low, non-irrigated control) were <br />randomly assigned to one of the four blocks in each of the two soil types, with all 50 trees in <br />each block receiving the same amount of water (Figure 2). A gravity fed drip system, supplied by <br />a 2000 gallon tank located 207 vertical feet upslope from the test site provided an adequate head <br />. to maintain water pressure greater than 60 lbs in all lines. The tank was filled by Seneca Coal