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• <br />Wetland. The extent of the Wetland vegetation type (WET) is shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit <br />Area Vegetation Map. A primary reason for sampling this vegetation type was driven by the <br />requirement found in the COE regulations. At the time that this site as sampled, it had not yet <br />been determined the exact extend to which this vegetation type would be disturbed by mining <br />activities and it was obvious that it was larger than 10 acres in size. Subsequent geological <br />drilling, as well as numerous back hoe soils pits dug in or near the bottoms of the Chiles and <br />Meehan Draws, have documented that in these areas, the coal is so close to the surface and the <br />quality is so poor, that there will be no mining in these depression areas containing the larger <br />wetland areas. Therefore, the only possible disturbance to the wetlands in Chiles and Meehan <br />Draws will be in the form haul roads that will be constructed across these wetland areas. <br />Essentially all other areas designated as Wetland will be disturbed by mining However, most of <br />these areas correspond to wetlands lacking a "significant nexus" as defined by recent COE <br />guidance and cannot be considered to be jurisdictional wetlands. While the exact limits of <br />disturbance to this type have not been precisely defined, it is certain that less than 10 acres of this <br />vegetation type will be disturbed by mining. At a consultation meeting held with the DRMS in <br />Grand Junction, WFC was directed to eliminate this as a separate vegetation type and combine it <br />with the Irrigated Pasture vegetation type due to the similarity between these vegetation types. <br />The DRMS asked that WFC do a statistical comparison of these two vegetation types. <br />Upon comparing the total plant cover and production of the proposed Irrigated Pasture <br />predisturbance areas with the Wetland predisturbance areas, it can be determined that these sites <br />are similar Total plant cover averages 76.60 and 69.30 percent and forage production averages <br />83.34 grams per 1/4m2, respectively. A t -test comparison of these values reveals that the <br />calculated t value for total plant cover was determined to be equal 0.7050 and the calculated t <br />value for forage production was determined to be equal 1.0590. The corresponding tabular t <br />values are 2.048 for cover and 1.982 for production. Since the calculated t in both instances, are <br />less than the corresponding t values, it can be concluded that the total plant cover and forage <br />production values for the Wetland and Irrigated Pasture predisturbance vegetation types are <br />statistically equal for these two parameters. This means it will be appropriate to combine the <br />Irrigated Pasture and Wetland predisturbance vegetation types with respect to final revegetation <br />success standards. Therefore, with respect to final revegetation, any disturbed wetlands will be <br />combined with the Irrigated Pasture vegetation type when the reclamation success criteria are <br />considered. <br />Minor Plant Communities. All mining related disturbance corresponding to: Roads, Disturbed <br />Road Right of Way, Reclaimed Spoil or Reclaimed Subsoil, Residential / Agricultural <br />Disturbance, Livestock Ponds and Irrigation Ditch vegetation types will be reclaimed if <br />necessary to a similar vegetation type. The final revegetation success standards on these areas <br />will be based upon the dominant adjacent vegetation type, which in most instances will be that of <br />Dryland Pasture. <br />Section 2.04.10 Page 34 April 2011 <br />