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that the premine land use is intensive agriculture based largely on irrigation. <br /> Vegetation types such as the swale/drainage type are present as a result of irrigation in <br /> the area and are used, where possible, in a similar fashion to irrigated pasture. <br /> Baseline studies also showed that irrigated hayland and pastureland are very similar in <br /> composition in many cases and may be used interchangeably depending on the operator's <br /> needs. After several years of production following renovation the hay fields become <br /> dominated by grasses and are slowly invaded by species such as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa <br /> pratensis) and buckhorn plantain (Plantaao lanceolata). The hay fields are used as <br /> pasture during various periods in the year based on operator needs. In most cases <br /> management is not at a high level. Irrigated cropland occurs in the western portion of <br /> the permit area, but the level of management has been low, resulting in no production in <br /> 1987 and the establishment of a dense stand of volunteer annual grains and annual and <br /> perennial weedy species. These fields in past years had been used as irrigated pasture. <br /> Other than farmsteads, facilities, and a small abandoned orchard, the sagebrush type makes <br /> up the balance of the area. This type reflects disturbance of the original pinyon-juniper <br /> vegetation and the intensity of use from associated agricultural activities. These <br /> sagebrush areas are not irrigated and are scattered mostly in the eastern portion of the <br /> permit area. <br /> The postmining land use will be similar to the premining land use - agriculture using <br /> irrigation. Irrigated pasture will be the primary postmining vegetation type, but <br /> irrigated hayland and a few areas of dryland pasture and swale/drainage type vegetation <br /> will also be established. Irrigated pasture was chosen as the primary vegetation type in <br /> order to encourage "prompt establishment of vegetative cover and recovery of productivity <br /> Levels compatible with the approved postmining land use" (4.15.1(2)). Irrigated hayland, <br /> predominated by alfalfa, will be established on 15 acres of prime farmland and irrigated <br /> grass hayland will be established on areas identified as cropland in the baseline <br /> vegetation studies. The level of management for irrigated pasture is fairly similar to <br /> that for irrigated hay with differences in production based mainly on species composition <br /> (i.e., hay fields usually have a high composition of alfalfa which has the potential for <br /> high levels of production). Therefore, the relative potential productivity of irrigated <br /> pasture and hayland should be similar. The various plans for backfilling, grading, and <br /> minesoil reconstruction (Tabs 20 and 21) will provide the basis for the potential <br /> productivity of the reclaimed lands. Upon meeting successful revegetation requirements <br /> for the irrigated pasture type and release of Peabody's liability, these lands can easily <br /> be converted to irrigated hayland by the postmine land user or owner. A large portion in <br /> 22-16 Revised 07/25/91 <br />