Laserfiche WebLink
4.5 Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland Revegetation Success Criteria and Success <br />Demonstration <br />The revegetation success standards for this type are based on the establishment of Reclaimed <br />Irrigated Pastureland as the postmining land use. Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland should be able <br />to attain a good level of productivity with only one to two grasses and a legume under continuing <br />and adequate management inputs. This includes scheduled irrigation, scheduled fertilization <br />based on soils tests and plant needs, and grazing management or proper harvest methods. <br />Scheduled fertilization of Reclaimed Irrigated Pasturelands is part of the normal husbandry applied <br />to maintain vigor and productivity. The requirements for establishment of woody plant densities, <br />species diversity, and seasonal variety are irrelevant to the Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland <br />vegetation type and postmining land use. Therefore, the standards of revegetation success for <br />the Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland type will be based on production and "live cover ". <br />As can be seen in Table 2.05.4(2)(e) -4 (these measurements were taken by Peabody in 1987 for <br />fields that contained alfalfa hay and the yield was only 0.82 tons per acre) all local farmers <br />harvest their irrigated fields at least one time during the year. There are a few farmers that <br />attempt a second and third cutting but the majority of the production comes from the 1 st cutting. <br />The success standard for WFC's Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland will involve statistically <br />adequate sampling based comparison to the approved reference area. The sampling will be <br />conducted a single time during late May -early June (immediately prior to 1 cut harvest of the <br />reclaimed fields; with reference and reclaimed areas to be sampled within a 7 day time frame.) <br />The standard for production in Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland was converted to a reference <br />area by TR -58, approved in 2009. The justification and data for this change can be seen in the <br />revision (TR -58) submittal. <br />PR -06 June 2010 2.05.4(2)(e) - 22 <br />