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Fertilization. Fertilizer may be applied to reclaimed areas as phosphorous. Phosphorous is <br />beneficial to root growth and plant establishment and development. When used, phosphorous <br />will be applied prior to seedbed preparation in order that it may be incorporated into the <br />root zone by the disking operation. Nitrogen fertilizer will not be used in areas to be <br />seeded. Nitrogen tends to encourage annual weedy growth in newly seeded areas resulting in <br />a potential for excessive competition and reduction in desired stand density. A nitrogen <br />application may be made as a top dressing in seeded pasture areas after the perennial <br />vegetation has become sufficiently established. Nitrogen will not be applied in years when <br />reclaimed stands are evaluated for bond release unless the comparison standard was derived <br />from fertilized stand data. <br />Seed Mixes. Three permanent seed mixes and one temporary stabilization mix have been <br />developed for reclamation of disturbances. The mixes are described below and are listed in <br />Tables 20 -1 through 20 -4. <br />Seed Mix No. 1 (Table 20 -1) has been designed to establish dryland pasture as grazing lands <br />in areas which were originally reseeded cropland prior to construction of the loadout <br />facility and rail loop. <br />Exhibit <br />18 -1, Post - Operational <br />Topography and Vegetation, <br />illustrates the areas to be considered for this mix. The mix <br />is comprised of species that <br />. <br />perform well on the soils <br />present in <br />the permit area and are <br />productive under the normal <br />precipitation received in <br />the area <br />without supplemental irrigation. All grasses have <br />similar palatability and management requirements. A pasture type alfalfa has been included <br />to improve the protein level and palatability of the forage and provide soil nitrogen <br />benefits. To eliminate the potential for bloat, it totals less then 25 percent of the mix <br />(based on seeds per square foot). Western wheatgrass was included as a species to enhance <br />long term stability without seriously affecting productivity in the pasture. <br />Seed Mix No. 2 (Table 20 -2) will be used in reclaiming disturbances in <br />subi rri gated/ irrigated improved pasture areas north of Walker Ditch (see Exhibit 20 -1) . The <br />composition of the mix includes a number of species currently established in adjacent <br />undisturbed pasture areas. The mix includes species adapted to a range of moisture regimes <br />and soil characteristics that may be present on the reclaimed site. These species will <br />return productivity and utility levels, will respond to management inputs, and have proven <br />value for the intended postmine land uses. <br />Seed Mix No. 3 (Table 20 -3) has been developed for reclamation of disturbed upland or <br />lowland native rangeland areas (Exhibit 18 -1, Tab 18). Reclaimed site characteristics will <br />TR -07 2 Revised 03/06 <br />