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2000 Billings Land Reclamation Symposium <br />THE EFFECTS OF VARYING TOPSOIL REPLACEMENT DEPTH ON <br />VARIOUS PLANT PARAMETERS WITHIN RECLAIMED AREAS <br />Brenda K. Schladweilei , Larry C. Munn, Rose Haroian and Scott Belden <br />ABSTRACT <br />Within native ecosystems, plant cover, production and diversity are often affected by the <br />amount, type and quality (physical and chemical) of the topsoil present. Reclaimed areas at <br />coal mines have federally mandated post - mining cover and production standards which are not <br />difficult to meet; however, pre-mine levels of plant diversity have been difficult to attain. <br />According to current mining regulations, a uniform topsoil replacement depth must be utilized <br />over a given mine permit area. For mine permit areas that have widely varying topsoil depths <br />within large portions of their permit area, this poses significant complications from a mine <br />planning standpoint. Approving variances for such conditions of existing coal mines often <br />results in concems from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Widely varying <br />topsoil availability is inherent to abandoned mine situations where topsoil is often lacking or very <br />limited <br />In order to address concerns over utilizing varying topsoil replacement depth within a given <br />permit area to enhance plant diversity, a study was funded by the Wyoming Abandoned Coal <br />Mine Land Research Program (ACMLRP) to: 1) determine if shallower replacement depths of <br />topsoil enhance plant species diversity; 2) determine if shallower replacement depths of topsoil <br />affect vegetation cover and production; 3) evaluate the quality of replaced topsoil through time <br />and between variable replacement depths; and based on these findings, 4) determine if variable <br />soil replacement depths enhance the development and/or differentiation of post -mine vegetation <br />communities. <br />Information derived from this study will be used to quantitatively assess the issue of variable <br />topsoil replacement depths and resulting plant diversity, as well as other vegetation parameters. <br />This issue is currently a concern within the state's mining industry, as well as the regulatory <br />authority. Information from this study will be used to assess the direction of future reclamation <br />work regarding vegetation/topsoil issues. <br />Study site construction was completed in Fall 1999. Data collection will be initiated in Summer <br />2000 and extend through Summer 2002. This paper presents the status of the project to date. <br />'BKS Environmental Associates, Inc., Gillette, WY 82717 -3467 <br />'Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 <br />'Powder River Coal Company, Gillette, WY 82717 <br />