2011-03-24_REPORT - C1981019 (10)

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Considering the 2010 monitoring effort as a whole, observed revegetation at the Colowyo mine is generally in good condition and well onto the path of successional advancement. As seems to be the norm, a few units exhibit elevated levels of annual grasses or early seral weeds and may or may not need remediation (herbicide treatment) depending on future precipitation patterns that favor planted perennials. Populations of noxious weeds continue to be sporadically observed within evaluated units. As revegetated communities continue to mature, the majority should meet both land use goals and bond release success criteria including woody plant density, ground cover, diversity, and current annual production, but ineffective control of noxious species can affect all of these goals. Therefore, continued attention to weed populations is appropriate. The following three sections (Sections 2.2 - 2.4) provide a brief narrative of the results from each individual unit evaluated by Cedar Creek. Also included for each unit is a map of the 2010 sample points and a one-page summary (compendium) of all pertinent data collected within the unit and revegetation specifications applicable to the unit*. Section 2.5 provides a discussion of the results from the sampling of the two reference areas. The data collected from EP042 is presented in Section 2.6 and a discussion of the results from the CSU shrub plots in East Pit is presented in Section 2.7. Raw data tables for cover, production, seedling emergence, and woody plant density are presented in Appendix AB. Additional tables and charts for data analyses regarding the CSU shrub plots can also be found in Appendix AB. * Data and specifications are limited to that information collected by, or known to, Cedar Creek as of 2010. Past data and information could be added to these compendia at any time. Future data will be added as it becomes available. Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. 6 Colowyo Mine 2010 Revegetation Monitoring Report