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. Native shrub establishment on reclaimed lands has been a challenge. Competition from <br />herbaceous species and wildlife browsing present significant obstacles to establishment. <br />Introduced cool season grass species in particular were frequently seeded in the recent <br />past, and stands dominated by these aggressive grasses have suppressed establishment <br />and growth of the slow growing native shrub species. The uniform replacement of <br />topsoil, at depths ranging from 12 -20 inches, may be another factor contributing to the <br />homogenous grass community structure. Grasses thrive at the expense of forb and shrub <br />species. The young shrub plants that do get established are highly desirable browse for <br />deer and elk. Thus, heavy browse pressure creates another limitation for shrub <br />establishment. <br />In an effort to overcome these limitations, the Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) <br />requested Colorado State University (CSU) to assist with a study plan to evaluate shrub <br />establishment. A study design was developed after considerable discussion with <br />representatives from the mining community, the DMG and the Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife (DOW). Three coal mines in northwestern Colorado volunteered to assist with <br />the project by providing personnel, regraded lands for the plots, construction equipment, <br />planting materials, elk proof fencing, and plot maintenance. At each mine demonstration <br />plots were constructed in the fall of 2000. Five to six treatments were established to <br />evaluate shrub establishment techniques that have commercial practicality on a large <br />scale. The specifics of the Colowyo demonstration plots are found in the Colowyo Mine <br />0 Specific Field Trial section of this narrative. <br />The study design took into consideration the possible limitations to shrub establishment. <br />The treatments vary at each mine to accommodate the reclamation techniques and <br />material availability for each site, but certain similar treatments were included at each <br />mine. To evaluate effect of the herbaceous competition, seed mixes were designed so <br />that shrubs contributed the majority of the seed mix. Two seed mixes were evaluated at <br />each mine: <br />1) a native grass, forb and shrub seed mixture and <br />2) a seed mixture of unpalatable native shrubs and low - competitive native grasses <br />and forbs. <br />At each mine, one treatment included alternating strips seeded with only the shrub /forb <br />component of the mix. At Seneca Mine, treatments included seedling transplants, for tall <br />shrub species that have proven to be particularly difficult to establish from seed. <br />Typical topsoil replacement depths varying from 12 — 20 inches creates an ideal <br />environment for grass establishment. Therefore, the depth of topsoil on the plots was <br />varied to evaluate shrub and forb response to topsoil depths ranging from 0 to 20 inches. <br />Compositrc soil and overburden samples wire taken from' each treatment at each mine. <br />Overall, tl'ie soils (topsoil and spoil) at all three -mine sites have good physical and <br />4.15 -6 Revision Date: 6/21/11 <br />Revision No.: TR -84 <br />