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ESTABLISHING WYOMING BIG SAGEBRUSH ON MINED LANDS IN WYOMING'
<br />Gerald E. Schuman, Laurel E. Vicklund, and Scott E. Belden'
<br />Abstract. Revegetation of mined rangelands in the western U.S. requires that a
<br />diverse, self - generating plant community be established that includes native woody
<br />shrubs that provide important wildlife habitat. Wyoming Department of
<br />Environmental Quality, Land Quality Division, on August 6, 1996, amended their
<br />revegetation standards to include a shrub density requirement that had been sought
<br />by environmental and wildlife groups for over two decades. This standard requires
<br />that 1 shrub m' be re- established on 20% of the disturbed area and that 50% of
<br />this density be comprised of the dominant species present before mining. In
<br />Wyoming and much of the western rangelands, this typically requires the re-
<br />establishment of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate ssp.
<br />wyomingensis). Hence, much research has been accomplished in the last 10 -15
<br />years to develop a better understanding of its seed physiology, seedbed ecology,
<br />and to develop cultural practices that will aid in its re- establishment. Research has
<br />increased our knowledge in many of these important areas of sagebrush re-
<br />establishment ecology and have greatly enhanced our ability to establish big
<br />sagebrush by direct seeding; however, climatic factors have a great influence on
<br />the success of its re- establishment. The paper also compares the cost of direct
<br />seeding compared to transplantation of nursery grown seedlings to meet the shrub
<br />density standard and shows that direct seeding costs only a fraction of the cost of
<br />transplantation. Further research efforts should be concentrated on further
<br />improving direct seeding technology and enhanced production of good quality
<br />seed.
<br />Additional Key Words: direct seeding, success, cost, transplantation.
<br />Introduction
<br />Revegetation of mined lands in the western U.S.
<br />includes much more than just establishing a perennial
<br />grass community to protect the soil resource from
<br />erosion. In the past two decades regulatory agencies and
<br />environmental groups have spent considerable time and
<br />effort to ensure that native shrubs are re- established on
<br />Taper presented at the 2001 National Meeting of the
<br />American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation.
<br />Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 3 -7, 2001. Pub. by
<br />ASSMR 3134 Montavesta Rd., Lexington, KY 40502.
<br />'Gerald E. Schuman is Soil Scientist, USDA -ARS, High
<br />Plains Grasslands Research Stn., 8408 Hildreth Road,
<br />Cheyenne, WY 82009; Laurel E. Vicklund is Senior
<br />Environmental Coordinator, RAG Coal West Inc., Belle
<br />Ayr Mine, P.O. Box 3039, Gillette, WY 82717; and Scott
<br />E. Belden is Senior Environmental Supervisor, Powder
<br />River Coal Co., North Antelope/Rochelle Complex,
<br />Caller Box 3035, Gillette, WY 82717.
<br />by
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<br />mined lands in the Great Plains and Great Basin of the
<br />western U.S. These lands must be reclaimed to a diverse,
<br />self - generating plant community that includes native
<br />woody shrubs that provide important wildlife habitat, as
<br />well as livestock forage. In fact, considerable effort, from
<br />both a regulatory and environmental standpoint has been
<br />aimed at a single species, Wyoming big sagebrush
<br />(Artemisia tridentate ssp. wyomingensis). Hence, much
<br />research has been undertaken to better understand seed
<br />physiology, germination, dormancy, viability, seedbed
<br />ecology, and cultural practices for establishment of
<br />Wyoming big sagebrush on mined lands. This paper
<br />reviews the recent research and uses some of the data to
<br />make seeding recommendations and to compare the cost
<br />of direct seeding to transplantation of sagebrush to meet
<br />the shrub density standard for mined lands in Wyoming.
<br />Seed Considerations
<br />Wyoming big sagebrush seed is very small, making
<br />it difficult to harvest, process and plant. Young and
<br />Young (1992) report that there are 3500 -3800 seeds g',
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