_INSPECTION - C1982057 (71) - Laserfiche WebLink

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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. Weed patches not noted during prior inspections include: • Thistle along former topsoil stockpile access route east of the Ridgeline Access Road and south of the Substation LUR intersection, near the gully location recently repaired with TRM; • Scattered thistle and houndstongue patches in the PM-3 watershed; • A few clumps of dalmation toadflax were noted in the RMRS original aspen test plot area; • Thistle patch on west bank of Pond 015, and higher up the drainage closer to the toe of PM-4D; • Yellow toadflax patch upslope of the road, 30 feet south of the emergency spillway crossing at Pond 015; • Thistle patches in moist meadow just upstream of Pond 009. RMRS Study Plots The fenced shrub plot near Stock Pond T-26 in the South Area PM-2D watershed, and the older aspen test plots in the upper 006 watershed were observed. RMRS established two weed fabric aspen and serviceberry plot replications within the T-26 planting area in the fall of 2007. Weed competition has been less severe in these plots than other study locations at II-W and Yoast, and visual differences with respect to survival and growth of aspen are not as pronounced, although the weed-guard aspen generally appear more robust, particularly in the northern of the two plots, where growth differences are more evident. Serviceberry in these and other plots has been generally less responsive than aspen to weed-fabric treatment. In areas of the fenced planting area outside the RMRS plots, there is generally good survival of aspen, as well as serviceberry, and good establishment of sagebrush, bitterbrush, native forbs and a scattering of native grasses. It is anticipated that this establishment area will look quite good after a few growing seasons. A number of rills have formed within the fenced area, that will need to be hand repaired to prevent damaged to established vegetation. The growth and survival of the aspen trees subject to the weeding treatment in the original 2004 RMRS study site, on the live handle topsoil area, is quite impressive. The trees in this plot are the largest that have been grown on any coal mine site in Colorado. The understory vegetation in the plot areas is developing nicely, with a wide array of native sedges, forbs, and grasses that volunteered from the live handled aspen woodland topsoil. 6