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Revegetation Evaluation - 2008 <br />Snowcap Coal Co. <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />1.1 General <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2008 by Snowcap Coal Company <br />(Snowcap) to perform an evaluation of vegetation within selected revegetated units at the Snowcap Mine <br />(a.k.a. Powderhorn Coal Co. - Roadside Mine). Monitoring was performed in the interest of ascertaining <br />progress of on-the-ground revegetation in general accordance with Rule 3.03, Release of Performance <br />Bonds. The revegetated areas evaluated in 2008 consisted of a total of 15 units ranging in size from less <br />than an acre to 20.2 acres. In addition, the Greasewood and Shadscale Reference Areas were evaluated <br />to provide comparison values. At the time of sampling, revegetation within evaluated units had typically <br />experienced six growing seasons since the completion of seeding or reseeding. Sampling points within <br />each unit are indicated on Maps 2 - 10 at the rear of this document. <br />Field sampling for the directly measurable variable of ground cover (which can also be converted to <br />indicate species composition) was systematically conducted within the 15 reclaimed areas as well as <br />within the two reference areas on June 14th - 16th, 2008. Sampling was conducted by and/or under the <br />direct supervision of Cedar Creek's Senior Plant Ecologist, Mr. Erik M. Mohr. Each of the 15 revegetation <br />units was systematically sampled with 10 ground cover transects. Furthermore, the Shadscale and <br />Greasewood Reference areas each received 20 ground cover transects to facilitate development of a <br />strong comparator. In addition to the sampling effort, current conditions existing at the time of field <br />work were documented by photos of each segregate area (see Plates 1 - 17) to provide a visual <br />demonstration of site-conditions. Nomenclature for plant taxa follows Weber and Whitman (1996) and <br />lifeform classification regarding sub-shrubs follows Colorado Regulations and Wyoming DEQ (1999). <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 1 Snowcap Coal Co. - 2008 <br />Revegetation Evaluation