2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (110)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS with CDOW after the third full year of growth after initial establishment of these field trials. Another potential use of the information provided by these trials may be to provide Colowyo with an avenue for relief of the tall shrub establishment area expectations for the Collom expansion area should efforts prove to be unsuccessful despite the incorporation of best management practices. A full description of both proposed field trials is as follows: 1) Colowyo agrees to establish one small (one acre) tall shrub establishment site that that displays a thicker topsoil condition. The location of this field trial will likely be located in the Grassland designated seeding area as illustrated by Map 46. Actual results from the trial should yield information that can be used to apply additional stability and /or sediment control measures on larger areas if this attempt is successful. a) The area will be regraded in accordance with PMT requirements. b) The area will be tested for overburden suitability as per requirements. c) Approximately 48 inches of topsoil will be placed to replicate common topsoil depth conditions in the surrounding area in stands of this nature. Once the topsoil has been placed, it will be cross - ripped with a dozer or by other appropriate means to ensure the material is in a loose, rough condition to encourage infiltration of rain /snowmelt an root development. d) The Sagebrush Steppe mix has been modified to reduce the volume of "low shrubs" in favor of tall shrub components of the mix. The grasses currently included in the mix were also reduced to minimize competition, while still providing some soil stabilization function. The entire trial area will be seeded with the modified Sagebrush Steppe Mix as seen below. In the event individual components of the mix are unavailable, guidance from the Division will be sought prior to implementation of the trial. Weedguard fabric or its equivalent will be placed in rows (at intervals of approximately 22 feet) and will be used to severely reduce competition between the containerized plantings and annual weeds and grasses. Please see the "Expected Field Implementation Plan for Tall Shrub Field Trials" illustration below. e) Containerized 2 -3 foot serviceberry and chokecherry plants will be utilized from the most similar source elevation available in the region. Based on the volume of containerized plants included in the trial (550), and the expectations of success, a combined number of (300) serviceberry and chokecherry plants within the trial (five years after implementation) will be considered a successful demonstration of Colowyo's ability to proceed further with additional plantings. Supplemental planting of serviceberry and chokecherry should be initiated the year following initial trial establishment should initial survival of the plantings be very low. Alternative methods for demonstrating compliance with the re- establishment of tall shrub habitat in the Collom expansion area will be initiated with the Colorado Division of Wildlife after the end of the third growing season after initiation of this trial should stand failure continue. f) Containerized serviceberry and chokecherry plants will be placed through the weed barrier fabric by hand (or by mechanical means if practical and economically feasible) as per best practices with regards to depth, etc. Proper planting holes are important in transplant survival. Holes should be two to three times wider than the root ball. If the soil is clay and the sides of the hole become glazed during digging, the sides of the hole should be roughened with a spade. Holes should be prewatered before planting in dry soils. This prevents initial postplant water from migrating away from the root ball. Every effort will be made to plant at the same depth that the tree or shrub was growing in its previous location. Damaged roots will be clean -cut with a sharp blade prior to planting. If any circling or kinked roots are discovered during the transplanting procedure, they will be severed to prevent future girdling of the plant. Every effort will be made to orient the tree or shrub in the same direction, relative to the sun, as it was facing in the previous location. Plantings will be performed in the fall by properly trained personnel. Serviceberry and chokecherry planting densities will be one plant every four linear feet (1/2 serviceberry, 1/2 chokecherry) within a row. Collom — Rule 4, Page 29 Revision Date: 1/23/09 Revision No.: PR -03