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2.2.4 EP046 <br />EP046 is comprised of 106.6 acres of moderately <br />sloping revegetation that has a predominately north- <br />easterly aspect. This unit was seeded in 2005 and <br />therefore, has undergone four growing seasons prior <br />to 2009. A total of 39 plant taxa were observed in <br />the unit (see Table AB-1). Ground cover in EP046 <br />consisted of 63.2% live vegetation, 0.4% rock, 24.4% <br />litter, and bare soil exposure of 11.9% (see Table AB- <br />2 and Chart AB-1). Perennial cover across the unit <br />averaged 30.3% with annual and biennial cover <br />averaging 32.6% and noxious weed cover with 0.3%. <br />Dominant taxa were cheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, <br />thickspike wheatgrass, Japanese brome, and Western <br />wheatgrass with 26.3%, 6.4%, 5.9%, 5.6%, and <br />4.6% average cover, respectively. Woody plant <br />density was determined from 20 belt transects. <br />Density (Table 3) totaled 92 young and mature stems <br />per acre with Wyoming big sagebrush the dominant <br />woody plant with 58 stems per acre. With regard to <br />diversity, EP046 exhibited five perennial grasses with <br />between 3% and 50% relative cover and relative forb <br />cover of 6.7% (excluding noxious weeds). <br /> <br />0 <br />O? <br /> <br />O O ©, <br />R <br /> <br />0 (D <br /> <br /> <br />potentlai <br /> <br />CdOWVO Mine - ReMaeUtj0n Malilaitg 1 -N 150 hG <br />S-*P.10 WSM:760. 360' m lm .m .. <br />Noxious weeds appear to be fairly well controlled <br />in this unit, however scattered small populations of Canada thistle were observed. Annual bromes <br />contribute over half of the total ground cover with 31.9% cover. The use of the herbicide Plateau is <br />probably necessary to reduce and control the population of annual bromes. Qualitative observation <br />reveals small areas with gullies and areas that could benefit from reseeding (see map). Overall, Unit <br />EP046 exhibits good diversity and decent perennial cover levels for four-year old revegetation and should <br />be monitored again in 2012 (seventh growing season). EP046 is too young for shrub units to be <br />delineated, using the newly passed standard as guidance. However a potential shrub patch appears to <br />be developing on the south end of the unit (see map). <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, inc. Page 18 Colowyo Mine <br />2009 Revegetation Monitoring Report