2001-12-11_PERMIT FILE - C1980005 ‎(5)‎

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: TAB 10 BASELINE VEGETATION STUDIES
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

SHRUB AND TREE AGE
~~ The principal objective of tree and shrub aging studies undertaken at
Seneca II Mine was to provide baseline data descriptive of the vegetation
resouroe on the stay area consistent with .recomrendations set forth
by the National Environ*;ental Policy Act (1369). A secondary objective
of such studies is to provide some insight regarding past land use on the
study area. For example, if large homogeneous blocks of young-age shrubs
and trees were encountered in certain areas, an observer could conclude
that some type of perturbation had occurred in the past. These data,
if significantly different from one site to another (coRgaring the same
shrub and tree species), would stimulate the observer to search for and
identify evidence of past land uses (timber harvest, overgrazing, land
clearing for cultivation, etc.} or disturbances (fire, land slide,
avalanche, etc.) which would explain shrub and tree age data differences
from site to site. Tree and shrub age data gathered at various sites
at Seneca II Mine did not differ sufficiently (i.e., no exceptionally
young stands were encountered) to suggest that land use or other
~• disturbances have significantly influenced the vegetation in the past
25-30 years. The primary land uses in this area for at least the past
30 years have been cattle grazing, wildlife use, and mining. Cattle
grazing and wildlife use have not significantly influenced the natural
aging process of trees and shrubs in the study area. Mining has
removed trees and shrubs but since mining is a relatively recent event
(in terms of land use), large areas of trees and shrubs have not yet
been successfully established. Natural succession within the aspen
subtype produces stands of varying age but these age differences are not
so clearly related to land use as they are to natural forces.
Tree size and age data are shown for aspen in Tables 6 and 7 while
shrub height and age data are presented for sagebrush, Gambol oak,
serviceberry, chokecherry and snowberry in Tables 8-12, respectively.
A straight linear regression of age on size was performed for the
species above. The results of these regression analyses are summarized
in the above tables. A nndel for the relationship totween size and age
(• is given by the formula:
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