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CSU Shrub Plots <br />1.0 Background Information <br />In the fall of 2000, the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG — now CDRMS) and <br />Colorado State University (CSU) designed and implemented a group of shrub establishment plots to aid in <br />the reclamation and revegetation planning at NW Colorado mines, including Colowyo. Historically, shrub <br />establishment on revegetation at the Colowyo Mine has been largely unsuccessful due to two significant <br />limiting factors: 1) heavy browsing by elk and deer, and 2) competition from aggressive grasses. Test <br />plots, totaling 7.4 acres and comprised of five different treatments and two fencing strategies, were <br />designed to shed light on the two primary obstacles to shrub establishment. The field study was <br />constructed in the summer and fall of 2000 with fencing completed in spring of 2002; 2.7 acres were <br />fenced to exclude elk and deer, while the remaining 4.7 acres were left unfenced (Map 4). Following the <br />completion of CSU's period of emergence observation, ten 0.1 -acre permanent sampling plots (five <br />fenced and five unfenced) were established by Cedar Creek within the study area to observe how much <br />of an effect these limiting factors play in the eventual composition of revegetation and shrub population <br />dynamics given varying topsoil depths and seed mixes. Descriptions of the five different treatments <br />established along the long axis within this study area are as follows: <br />Treatment 1. 18 -20 inches of live haul topsoil placed over spoil with strip seeding. The strip <br />seeding included a strip of native shrubs and native low- competitive forbs (Seed Mix #1) that <br />would alternate with a strip of native grasses, forbs and shrubs (Seed Mix #2). <br />Treatment 2. 6 inches of live haul topsoil and seeding with native shrubs and low- competitive <br />native forbs (Seed Mix #1). Included with this treatment were some surface manipulations to <br />create depressions for enhanced soil moisture conditions. <br />Treatment 3. 6 inches of live haul topsoil over spoil with strip seeding. The strip seeding would <br />include a strip of native shrubs and native low- competitive forbs (Seed Mix #1) that would <br />alternate with a strip of native grasses, forbs and shrubs (Seed Mix #2). <br />Treatment 4. Non - topsoiled spoil with strip seeding. The strip seeding would include a strip of <br />native shrubs and native low- competitive forbs (Seed Mix #1) that would alternate with a strip of <br />native grasses, forbs and shrubs (Seed Mix #2). <br />Treatment 5. Non - topsoiled spoil seeded with relatively unpalatable native shrubs, low - <br />competitive native forbs, and low- competitive native grasses (Seed Mix #3). <br />Sampling of the CSU shrub plots was conducted by Colorado State University from 2001 through <br />2004 at which time sampling ceased due to the conclusion of project budgeting. Because CSU only <br />sampled during the initial 4 -year establishment period, no information regarding the dynamics of <br />maturing shrub populations would result, and such information is equally as important as emergence data <br />when considering the original goals of this project. Therefore, in 2005, Cedar Creek initiated vegetation <br />cover and woody plant density sampling using comparable, but significantly upgraded methodologies. <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. B - 1 Colowyo Mine <br />2011 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />