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(See Exhibit 22 -1 for the locations and designations of woody plant concentration sites) <br />Woody plant density success will be evaluated on the basis of a performance standard. As per <br />CDRMS suggestion, it is requested that the overall woody plant density standard for the II -W <br />Mine will be 200 stems per acre. There are ten (10) fenced shrub plots shown on Exhibit 22 -1, <br />Postmine Vegetation Map. These fenced plots contain a variety of woody plant species, <br />including aspen. In the four (4) plots specifically identified as concentrated aspen and shrub <br />sites the density standard will be 850 stems per acre of woody stems of which 150 will be <br />aspen. In the four (4) fenced plots identified as upland woody plant sites the density standard <br />will be 850 woody plants per acre. The standard for the three (3) riparian sites will be 850 <br />woody riparian species per acre of which at least 150 stems per acre will be tree species. The <br />standard for the remaining unfenced upland woody plant establishment sites will be 850 woody <br />stems per acre. Outside the bounds of the fenced plantings, woody plant development will be <br />assessed in extent upon the occasion of Phase III bond release testing. The commitment is that <br />areas with an average of at least 1000 stems per acre will comprise at least 10 percent of the <br />area outside fenced plantings at the II -W Mine. <br />Aspen is a specific species of concern, therefore within the shrub/ tree establishment plots; <br />SCC has chosen four (4) locations for aspen planting. Within these specific aspen plots 150 <br />aspens per acre will be the success standard for aspen specifically. These success standards <br />may not reflect the ultimate goal of the reclaimed ecosystem yet the plants will be in place for <br />successional processes to eventually return the land to a sustainable and balanced plant <br />community. Based on the 2009 Musselman Report, The Use of Landscape Fabric and <br />Supplemental Irrigation to Enhance Survival and Growth of Woody Perennials Planted on <br />Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands, SCC presents the following justification for establishing a <br />density standard for aspen and woody plants within the designated planting areas. <br />The study recommended a planting density of 5'x5' or 25 sq ft which would result in a per acre <br />planting density of 1740 stems per acre. This is a realistic planting rate when mortality is <br />considered. All woody stems, which include aspens, will be planted at the 1740 /acre rate inside <br />the fenced area. This will be accomplished using the techniques outlined in the revegetation <br />plan which include direct seeding and seedling transplants. In the Musselman research, the <br />highest mortality of live planted seedlings was 45 % where the competing biomass was high. <br />Optimistically, the mortality rate will be approximately 50% so the standard will be 150 stems <br />per acre for seedling transplanted aspen and 850 stems for all woody species. This is a <br />reasonable assumption based on experience with aspen planting at other Seneca mines. We <br />TR -70 58 Revised 06/10 <br />