2011-11-22_REVISION - C1992081 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Adjacent and undisturbed lands tend to have a high incidence of shrubs. Heavy use by livestock grazing has aided in the increase of shrub densities. Postmining vegetation communities will be: dryland pasture, improved pasture, and rangeland. Due to the narrow configuration of the area designated as rangeland (approximately 200 -250 ft wide), no woody plant density standard will be imposed on the rangeland area. The Division has received confirmation from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in a letter dated March 10, 1993 that the absence of a woody plant component in the rangeland area would not be detrimental to wildlife use and would increase the "edge" effect along adjacent shrublands. Four seed mixes will be used in the Loadout area. Each mix has been formulated for adaptation to a particular land use and location for which it will be planted. HGT proposes to include an introduced legume, alfalfa, in the rangeland seed mix. The Division proposes to approve the use of a less aggressive species of alfalfa, such as Medicago falcata, in small quantities in t h e , see rv. .p4U11111,1VJ 111 the, seed mix. Seed mix No. 5 is designated for reclaimed areas within the TAHR corridor. The mix has been designed for the wet saline or alkaline conditions and heavy textures soils which are likely to be present within this area. In particular, the western end of the TAHR corridor and many of the drainages were wet and saline /alkaline prior to construction of the TAHR. Dryland wheat farming using summer fallow techniques to enhance soil moisture levels is a major source of these conditions which will continue following reclamation. Drill seeding will be the preferred method of planting. Broadcast or hydroseeding will be employed where steep slopes or small areas limit accessibility of the seed drill. Mulching will be achieved by use of a cover crop of winter wheat or barley. HGT has found that the use of straw mulch introduces undesirable weedy species into the reclaimed area and will thus not be required. Revegetation success will be monitored qualitatively through visual observations. Quantitative sampling shall occur in the 3rd and 6th years after reclamation for cover, species, production, and woody plant density. Reclamation success will be determined by comparison with associated reference areas. Cover in the reclaimed areas will be estimated by the point- intercept method and shall be deemed acceptable if it is greater or equal to 90% of the cover in the appropriate reference area with 90% statistical confidence. Vegetation production will be measured by harvesting 1/2 m to 1 m plots in both reclaimed and reference areas. If production in the reclaimed area is 90% or more of the production of the associated reference area at a 90% statistical confidence, it shall be deemed acceptable. Neither dryland nor improved pasture designations will be required to meet a species diversity standard since post operational land use will be for agricultural use. The rangeland areas will be differentiated by either upland rangeland or lowland rangeland. Upland rangeland will establish 5 perennial grasses with 50% or greater frequency each. Three of these grasses will contribute greater than 1% relative cover. A minimum of two forbs will be established with an occurrence of 50% or greater. At least one shrub will be established Hayden Gulch Loadout 28 November 22, 2011