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• Noxious weeds <br />o CDOW recommends that a vigorous program be developed and implemented to control <br />the establishment and proliferation of noxious weeds in the disturbance boundary as well <br />as the permit boundary. <br />• Topsoil <br />o CDOW agrees with the plan for variable replacement of topsoil thickness to mimic the <br />pre-mine topsoil profile and provide a greater opportunity for success for the sagebrush <br />steppe communities. <br />o Advances in reclamation science provide new strategies to achieve successful <br />reclamation. CDOW recommends that Colowyo consult with Colorado State University, <br />or other experts, to develop reclamation strategies that will provide the best possible <br />opportunity for successful establishment of tall shrub and sagebrush. <br />• Post Mine Land Use <br />o CDOW agrees with the post-mined land use of rangeland condition capable of supporting <br />varieties of wildlife species as well as the creation of grazing lands where warranted by <br />hydrological stability. <br />• Vegetation <br />o CDOW agrees with the seed mix as defined by the reclamation plan. CDOW does <br />recommend that Hedysarum boreale, Utah sweetvetch, be added to all seed mixes. Utah <br />sweetvetch is a native legume that is highly palatable to big game, livestock, and grouse. <br />Its usage in all seed mixes will also compliment the use of cicer milkvetch in establishing <br />plants capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen to help build soil fertility. <br />o Sagebrush Steppe: The re-establishment of 350 acres of sagebrush on slopes of 0-10% is <br />adequate. Approximately 500 acres of sagebrush exist in the disturbance boundary. <br />o Grasslands: CDOW agrees with the plan to establish grasslands on areas of greater that <br />10% slope. CDOW agrees with the plan that livestock grazing be excluded from these <br />areas until soil stability is achieved and not harmed from this activity. CDOW further <br />recommends that Colowyo commit to re-establish 10-15% of the total acreage greater <br />that 10% to either sagebrush and or tall shrub. Wildlife utilize these slopes, especially the <br />south facing slopes, during wither months. This can be conducted after soil stabilization <br />has been achieved. <br />o Tall Shrub: CDOW agrees with Colowyo on conducting field trials for the re- <br />establishment of tall shrub. CDOW does not agree with Colowyo that if the field trials are <br />successful that only 12 acres of tall shrub be re-established. CDOW recommends that if <br />trials are successful, 150 acres of tall shrub be re-established. <br />o Aspen: Only 12 acres of aspen community fall within the disturbance boundary. CDOW <br />agrees with Colowyo that re-establishment of this community is not required and to allow <br />natural recruitment of this vegetative component. NOTE: If further surveys reveal an <br />aspen community has established in the disturbance boundary and thus increasing the <br />amount of aspen acreage, then CDOW recommends that this stipulation be removed and <br />re-evaluated.