2010-03-12_REPORT - C1981019 (8)

Home Browse Search

following the peak of growth in July. Field efforts in 2009 were conducted under the direct supervision of Cedar Creek's Senior Plant Ecologist, Mr. Erik M. Mohr, and/or Range Ecologist, Mr. Jesse H. Dillon. The remainder of this document is divided into logical sections. Section 2.0 provides results by mine area (East Pit and Section 16) by revegetated unit. Each unit and resulting data / mapping is separately presented along with a brief discussion of any pertinent observations and/or recommendations. Section 2.6 presents results of data collected from the CSU Shrub Plots in East Pit. Section 3.0 presents pertinent conclusions and/or recommendations. A description of field methods utilized in 2009 is presented as Appendix AA, and raw data tables and supporting charts are presented in Appendix AB. In this manner, only the most salient information is provided in the main body of this document. Acreages presented in this document are determined by Colowyo's engineering and/or permitting department. Precipitation data presented on Table P and Chart P (following Map 1) is the average of two weather stations at the Colowyo Mine (SCN16 and WSTPT from 2001-2008 & SCN16 and Metrological Station in 2009). The West Pit station was moved to South Taylor in 2009, therefore Metrological Station, which is located near the Colowyo offices, was substituted for the analysis of precipitation at the mine. This site is located at approximately the same elevation as the old West Pit Station. Precipitation in the project area was determined to be slightly below average when compared with the nine-year average for the 2008 / 2009 growing season (September 2008 through August 2009). However, this nine-year average is potentially below the actual long-term average for the mine given that 2001 through 2004 are recognized as below-average precipitation years region wide (drought years). For example, the nearest official weather station (Craig 4SW) received only 44% of its average precipitation in 2001, 61% in 2002, 86% in 2003, and 83% in 2004. Given this analysis the long-term average precipitation at the Colowyo mine is most likely in the 19-inch range as opposed to the recent seven-year average of 17.7 inches. Therefore, precipitation during the 2008 / 2009 growing season (16.6 inches) was most likely below average as opposed to "slightly" below average. However, the growing season precipitation was above average with April, May, and June exhibiting 1.67, 1.79, and 2.42 inches, respectively. CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 2 Colowyo Mine 2009 Revegetation Monitoring Report