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4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Given the relatively young age of monitored revegetation (6 years more or less), revegetated <br />community maturation is progressing reasonably well in many locations (see Tables 3a and 3b). Most <br />locations are showing increases in the perennial component of ground cover, which is a very encouraging <br />sign. In those locations indicated as progressing reasonably well (given comparison with success <br />criteria), another evaluation at year 8 (2010) is strongly recommended. For those locations indicating <br />more marginal progress with regard to diversity or cover attainment, it would be prudent to "subsidize" <br />those locations with standard husbandry practices as allowed under 4.15.7 (5). <br />Recommendations for standard husbandry practices include treating those areas with more than <br />15% ground cover by annual grasses with a specific herbicide such as Plateau or Oust for a minimum of <br />two to three consecutive seasons. Herbicides are often most effective against cheatgrass when applied <br />in the spring when the plants are 10 cm or less in height and experiencing active growth. Additionally, <br />application provides best results when treatment occurs while non-target species are still dormant, <br />otherwise the non-target (desirable) species will be impacted or killed. Repeated treatments over <br />successive seasons are necessary due to the longevity of the seeds in the seed bank (seeds remain viable <br />for 2-5 years) (Colorado State Parks 2005). <br />These treatment areas along with those locations that seem to be missing the forb or warm-season <br />grass component should also be interseeded with appropriate taxa to supplement the seed base that may <br />now be depleted. One or two locations should also receive supplemental cool-season grass taxa. Two <br />additional sites (Roadside Refuse Borrow and the Diversion Ditch) exhibit subset areas with elevated <br />cheatgrass levels and reduced desirable species. These areas should be specific targets for "husbandry" <br />efforts. Seeding efforts should occur subsequent to the final round of herbicide applications. In all <br />cases, plans for such efforts should be cleared with CDRMS before implementation to insure that the <br />reclamation clock is not reset unnecessarily. <br />As indicated in Cedar Creek's previous reports, application of herbicide must coincide with the initial <br />"green-up" of cheatgrass in early spring prior to any other species breaking dormancy. This is a very <br />small window of opportunity. The interseeding should occur following the final herbicidal treatment to <br />the applicable revegetation unit. It should also be heavily weighted toward warm-season grasses and <br />perennial forbs / sub-shrubs, which are presently in low abundance throughout much of the revegetation. <br />The interseeding would be best administered by pedestrian means using belt mounted / hand operated <br />seed distributors ("whirlygigs'?. Mechanical measures will disturb the soil surface thereby further <br />encouraging cheatgrass emergence. A recommended mix for this interseeding effort would be as <br />follows: <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 26 Snowcap Coal Co. - 2008 <br />Revegetation Evaluation