Laserfiche WebLink
r1 <br />LJ <br />Revegetation Evaluation - 2009 <br />Hamilton Mine <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2009 by J. E. Stover & Associates, Inc. <br />to perform an evaluation of vegetation within the primary revegetated units at the Hamilton Mine (a.k.a. <br />Honeywood Mine). Monitoring was performed in the interest of ascertaining progress of on- the - ground <br />revegetation in general accordance with Rule 3.03, Release of Performance Bonds. The revegetated area <br />evaluated in 2009 consisted of one moderately -sized unit approximately 100 acres in size. In addition, <br />five reference areas were evaluated to provide comparison values. These consisted of a North and South <br />unit for both grassland and sagebrush communities as well as a third area of sagebrush located <br />immediately adjacent to the reclaimed area along the western border. At the time of sampling, <br />revegetation within the evaluated unit had experienced well over ten growing seasons since the <br />completion of seeding. • <br />Field sampling for the directly measurable variable of ground cover (which can readily be converted <br />to indicate species composition) was systematically conducted within the reclaimed area as well as within <br />the five reference areas on July 14 2009. Sampling points within the reclaimed and adjacent areas are <br />indicated on Map 1 and sampling was conducted by Cedar Creek's Senior Range Ecologist, Mr. Steven R. <br />Viert. Each of the investigated units were systematically sampled with 5, 10, or 20 ground cover <br />transects. The established reference areas each received 5 transects, the area adjacent to the reclaimed <br />area received 10 transects, and the reclaimed area received 20 transects. In addition to the sampling <br />effort, current conditions existing at the time of fieldwork were documented by photos of each segregate <br />area to provide a visual demonstration of site - conditions, however, these photos are not included with <br />this report. Nomenclature for plant taxa follows Weber and Whitman (1996) and lifeform classification <br />regarding sub - shrubs follows Colorado Regulations and Wyoming DEQ (1999). <br />r1 <br />U <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 1 Hamilton Mine - Revegetation Evaluation - 2009 <br />