2009-11-10_PERMIT FILE - C1991078

• Permit No: C1991078
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 11/10/2009
• Doc Name: Revegetation Evaluation - Oct 2009
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 05 Vegetation Information
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

C.
•
•
season grasses). In this regard, the reclaimed area exhibits 2 warm- season grasses (blue grama -
12.18% and alkali sacaton (Sporobo /us airoides) - 2.98 %); 3 cool- season grasses (needle and thread -
18.78 %, Indian ricegrass - 5.31 %, and bottlebrush squirreltail - 3.89 %); 1 forb (scarlet globemallow -
8.29 %); and in addition 3 shrubs (four -wing saltbush - 13.73 %, winterfat - 6.35 %, and big sagebrush -
4.15 %). In total, there are 9 taxa that fall within the 3% to 40% limitation for reclaimed area
composition. By comparison, the native reference area data are presented which on average show
modest failure against these standards. Therefore, should final bond release sampling indicate non-
compliance with one of these criteria, there are arguments that indicate the standard has been set too
high. A tabular illustration of this comparison is provided below.
Number of Species with Between 3% & 40% Composition
Adjacent
Sagebrush
Grassland
Sagebrush
Grassland
Life Form
Hamilton
Reference
Reference
Reference
Reference
Reference
Ref. Area
Reve g
Area
Area -
Area -
Area -
Area -
Avg.
Warm Season Grass
2
3
1
1
1
2
1.6
Cool Season Grass
3
3
1
-
2
-
1.2
Forbs
1
-
-
1
-
1
0.4
Shrubs
3
-
-
-
2
1
0.6
Total
9
6
2
2
5
4
3.8
3.2 Revegetated Area
Ground cover of the reclaimed area consisted of 38.6% live vegetation, 2.15% rock, 22.05% litter,
and bare soil exposure of 37.2% (Table 2). Perennial cover across the unit averaged 30.15% with
annual and biennial cover averaging 8.45 %. Dominant taxa were needle and thread, four -wing saltbush,
blue grama, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), scarlet globemallow, stork's bill (Erodium cicutarium),
winterfat, and Indian ricegrass with 7.25 %, 5.3 %, 4.7 %, 4.15 %, 3.2 %, 2.85 %, 2.45 %, and 2.05%
average cover, respectively.
3.3 Reference Areas
Ground cover of the adjacent area consisted of 19.5% live vegetation, 1.6% rock, 27.7% litter, and
a significant level of bare soil exposure at 51.2% (Table 2). Perennial cover across the unit averaged
18.2% with annual and biennial cover exhibiting a modest 1.3 %. Dominant taxa were Wyoming big
sagebrush, blue grama, and needle and thread with 8.2 %, 2.5 %, and 2.2% average cover, respectively.
CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 8 Hamilton Mine - Revegetation Evaluation - 2009