2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (108)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Oro= . NVO The species and seeding rates indicated on this "grassland" mix resulted from in -depth analyses of past mixes and the resulting emergence and dominance within revegetated areas. A total of eleven different measurement events on Colowyo reclamation coupled with a performance evaluation for each taxon in the 2002 mix resulted in development of the mix indicated on Volume 1, Table 2.05 -7 as well as Table 2.05 -9. Examples of changes resulting from this analysis include: elimination of streambank wheatgrass (less palatable and redundant with thickspike), elimination of big bluegrass from the grassland mix for lack of performance, elimination of Sainfoin from both mixes for lack of performance, and substantial increases in the amount of sagebrush seed in both grassland and especially sagebrush steppe targeted mixes. These changes, including the planted amounts, have resulted in an increase in the number of seeds per square foot, from 29.2 / ft to 75.1 / ft Much of the increase is due to the substantial increase of sagebrush seed from 0.02 pounds PLS /acre to 0.5 pounds PLS /acre. This change has been adopted to increase the potential for development of shrub patches within the grassland community, to add structural and nutritional diversity to the community and overall wildlife habitat value. If too much sage results from this mix the amount of sagebrush seed can be reduced in subsequent reclamation areas (with Division approval). If excess shrub numbers result from early revegetation efforts, then managerial techniques are readily available to reduce sage populations once the land surface has been transferred back to the landowner if Colowyo does not choose to reclassify the area as sagebrush steppe and apply for bond release under those criteria. Volume 1, Table 2.05 -8, List of Contingency Substitutions for Table 2.05 -7 and Table 2.05 -9, provides the approved list of contingency substitutions for the seed mixes should certain taxa be unavailable or unwarranted in any given year (also appropriate for use on Collom area reclamation units). The reclamation seed mixture for areas targeting sagebrush steppe (wildlife habitat — sage grouse brood rearing habitat), as shown in Table 2.05 -9, Reclamation Seed Mixture, also contains sufficient diversity for ecological stability and is appropriate for use on Collom area reclamation units. This mixture contains a variety of grasses, forbs and shrub species well adapted to the soil and moisture conditions found in the Collom area and should provide both the structural diversity and life form diversity necessary for habitat requisites of young sage grouse. The seed mixture is capable of self - selection for each reclaimed micro - habitat encountered in the reclaimed areas and contains sufficient sagebrush seed to encourage at least some emergence each year and substantial emergence occasionally. There is potential, that too much sagebrush seed (115 seeds / ft has been incorporated into this mix, and given recent experience with new planting techniques designed for use at Colowyo in and after 2008, the amount of seed may need to be adjusted at some future point * . However, present knowledge within the industry dictates that a significant amount of sagebrush seed is necessary to consistently obtain desired emergence. Present knowledge also dictates that special care must be taken to plant sagebrush seed at precisely the correct depth ( -1 /16 of an inch) and at precisely the correct time of year (immediately prior to the first major snowfall event of the Fall). The greater the attention given to such details, the greater the potential for successful emergence. As with the reclamation seed mixture for grassland areas, the species and seeding rates indicated on this sagebrush steppe mix resulted from in -depth analyses of past mixes and the resulting emergence and dominance within revegetated areas. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the reduced competition from grasses, especially sod - formers like thickspike wheatgrass, will result in elevated diversity and better performance from certain poor producers such as big bluegrass, Rocky Mountain Fescue, Louisiana By example, as of 2007 the CSU shrub test plots exhibited an average sagebrush population of 3,500 plants per acre. This population resulted from an initial 0.25 pounds PLS of seed in the mix, following an excellent recruitment year. Collom — Rule 2, Page 109 Revision Date: 1/23/09 Revision No.: PR -03