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October 15, 2010 C-1981-020/Munger Canyon Mine DTM <br />REVEGETATION - Rule 4.15 <br />E Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br />The portal site, portal access road, waste disposal site and waste area topsoil stockpile site, as well as the lower <br />road topsoil stockpile site were all revegetated in 2007 (seeded with permanent seedmix in November 2007). <br />Portal Area and Reclaimed Access Road <br />in general, it appears that the reclaimed portal access road and the portal bench area seeding was successful. <br />While weedy annual and biennial forbs and grasses remain a significant stand component in these areas, a diverse <br />mix of desirable perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs is also present, and the perennials are becoming dominant in <br />many locations. Generally, lower sections of the reclaimed road corridor retain a higher presence of early <br />successional species, including annual bromes, Russian thistle, Kochia, yellow sweetclover, etc, while the <br />perennial component is more dominant along upper sections of the corridor. There are high density stands of <br />young big sagebrush in many locations along the road corridor, and other seeded shrubs including fourwing <br />saltbush, shadscale, and rubber rabbtbrush are also well represented, along with the seeded winterfat, and the <br />volunter mountain pepperweed, which are both suffrutescent (half-shrub) species. Perennial grasses noted along <br />the reclaimed road corridor include several native wheatgrasses, crested wheatgrass, Canada wildrye, basin <br />wildrye, sandberg bluegrass, and indian ricegrass. Perennial forbs include purple aster, blue flax, rocky mountain <br />penstemon, Palmer penstemon, and northern sweetvetch. Stand composition in the portal area is patchy, with <br />some areas of perennial dominance, and other areas still dominated by annuals and sweetclover. However, the <br />perennial component appears to be present in sufficient density that remedial treatments to not appear to be <br />warranted. Many of the species noted along the road corridor are also present in the portal area. <br />The Division's August inspection report noted the presence of a white flowered perennial forb along the slopes <br />and lower rock channels of the portal access, and raised the concern that it might possibly be the noxious perennial <br />pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). Based on observations made during the October inspection, the Division has <br />determined that the plant in question is not the noxious perennial pepperweed. It is a related native species, <br />mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum). Mountain pepperweed is a suffrutescent species common to the <br />pinyon juniper habitat in the vicinity. <br />One patch of the noxious weed Canada thistle was noted during the inspection. The patch is located at the upper <br />end of the lower fork of Permanent Channel "F", and is approximately 40'x40' in extent. The plants are still green <br />and should be sprayed as soon as possible within the next few days, using Curtail herbicide at the rate specified in <br />the control plan in Section 4.8.13.1 of the permit. The patch location should be checked in the spring, and any <br />new sprouts or seedlings should be re-sprayed prior to bud stage, as specified in the plan. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Page 4 of 10