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HAMILTON MINE, C1991-078, SL2 VEGETAION REPORT REVIEW JANUARY 10, 2011 <br />Phase III Review: <br />All reclaimed areas requested for bond release had an equal chance of being sampled. Two small <br />areas, north of pond B, and south of pond B, of Mine Area 1 (Map 2) did not have any cover transects, or <br />production quadrats fall within their boundaries due to the small size of these areas. Visual inspection by <br />Division personnel during the bond release inspection, June 3, 2010, and regular I&E program found <br />vegetation cover suitably established on these two areas. Both reclamation parcels and all three reference <br />areas were sampled to statistical adequacy for cover. Sample adequacy for cover was achieved on all three <br />reference areas in 2010. <br />Mine Area 1 parcel was last seeded in 1998, and is comprised of 81.6 acres. Mine Area 3 parcel was last <br />seeded in 1995, and consists of 9.9 acres. <br />Mine Area 1: 2010 vegetative cover exceeds 90% of the weighted area cover measured on the Sage ref A and <br />Grassland reference areas. Cover establishment on the Mine 1 area was successful. <br />Mine Area 3: 2010 vegetative cover exceeds 90% of the weighted area cover measured on the Sage ref A and <br />Sage ref B areas. Cover establishment on the Mine 3 area was successful. <br />DRMS has concerns regarding the high relative cover of annual forbs (Russian thistle) in Mine area 3 <br />(25% relative cover). However, the species is non-noxious, and Honeywood demonstrated that the <br />reclaimed area cover exceeds the weighted reference area cover if just perennial species are used for <br />comparison. Mine area 1 continues to exhibit 6% relative cover due to Cheatgrass, Mine area 3 has <br />4% relative cover attributable to Cheatgrass. Although Cheatgrass is considered a noxious species, on <br />State C list, and not listed for control in Montrose county. Honeywood demonstrated that with <br />removal of cover contributed by the cheatgrass component, the reclaimed areas still exceed the cover <br />standard. <br />Honeywood Coal Company needs to continue to implement the weed management plan. The Division rarely <br />sees the persistence of annual weedy species, i.e. Russian thistle, so long after reclamation seeding efforts <br />(twelve years). The Division advises Honeywood to implement weed control measures on the Russian thistle <br />patches in 2011. <br />Noxious Weeds: Mine area 1 had 0.52% cover (1.46% relative cover) attributed to Russian <br />knapweed <br />The operator is following the approved weed management plan. (permit section <br />2.05.4(2)(e)) This amount of weeds is not defined as an infestation. The operator <br />provided appropriate documentation weed control measures in the 2009 ARR. <br />Productivity: The operator collected herbaceous productivity on the reclaimed mine, Mine Areas 1 and 3, <br />and on the three approved reference areas during the 2010 vegetation sampling event. Fifty production <br />quadrats were collected on Mine area 1, N was statistically adequate. Fifty production quadrats were <br />collected on Mine area 3, N was statistically adequate. <br />Mine Area 1 Productivity= 389.1 lbs/ac <br />Reclamation standard (0.9 X Sage ref A 89%/grassland 11%)= 89.29 lbs/acres