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The approach to re- establishment of the functional potential of woody plants in the vegetation of the <br />reclaimed site is as follows: <br />1) Shrubs are planted as part of the general mix across the entire reclaimed surface. The presence of <br />shrubs at a basic, background level (200 stems per acre) will maintain the opportunity for further <br />shrub proliferation when conditions allow; <br />2) Development of shrubs on the reclaimed surface can be expected to be heterogeneous with planted <br />seed and naturally dispersed seed developing in patch -like fashion. Experience on older sites such <br />as the Seneca II Mine has shown that this cannot be predicted. Naturally developed (unfenced) <br />shrub concentration areas can be expected to be largely sagebrush and snowberry along with <br />varying amounts of competition and browsing - dwarfed tall shrubs; <br />3) Within fenced planting areas, tall shrubs as well as trees will have the chance to achieve full <br />stature, providing values of cover and more importantly seed production and dispersal. These <br />islands of tall shrub presence provide on -going potential for proliferation of tall shrubs across the <br />reclamation surface as future conditions allow. The heterogeneous patterns of life form will <br />benefit wildlife habitat needs by providing cover in a mosaic fashion that offers frequent transition <br />from tall to short and woody to herbaceous enhancing the so- called "edge effect." As this <br />heterogeneity develops, the current dominance of herbaceous cover will continue to provide <br />substantial foraging resources that are relatively scarce in the general area so heavily occupied by <br />thick woody cover. <br />SCC proposes five woody plant density standards, one mandatory standard for the overall reclaimed <br />land and four other (secondary) standards for the concentrated shrub /tree establishment sites of which <br />three must be satisfied <br />• Mandatory Shrub Standard - -- Overall, non - fenced, reclaimed land - - - -- 200 stems per acre <br />• Secondary Standard No.1 - -- Volunteer (plus remnants of planting) shrub concentrations (outside <br />fences) - - - -- 1000 stems per acre on at least 10% of the unfenced acreage. <br />• Secondary Standard No.2 - -- Woody plant establishment areas, upland, fenced - - -- 850 woody <br />stems /acre average. <br />• Secondary Standard No.3 -- -Woody plant establishment areas, riparian, fenced, non - fenced - - -- 850 <br />woody stems /acre average, riparian areas will contain at least 150 stems /acre of tree or tall shrub <br />species. <br />• Secondary Standard No. 4 - -- Woody plant establishment area, with aspen, fenced - - -- 850 woody <br />stems /acre (of which 150 stems /acre will be aspen). <br />TR -70 57 Revised 06/10 <br />