Laserfiche WebLink
The criterion for formal judgment of the adequate stocking of woody plants on the Seneca IIW site is as <br />follows: <br />Overall average (background) density z 200 stems per acre with the designated shrub concentration <br />portions of the bond release block possessing z 2000 stems per acre. <br />Shrub data will be collected during both of the bond release testing years. <br />Climatic Data <br />Seneca Coal Company (SCC) has historically provided precipitation data for Seneca II and IIW Mines, <br />however 2011 data was not available as of March 2012, and therefore 2011 precipitation data was obtained <br />from the NOAA administered Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) for the nearby town of Hayden <br />(Station 053867). Since the long -term average for the Seneca IIW mine exists for only 26 years, the <br />long -term average monthly precipitation data from Hayden (Station 053867) was used as an appropriate <br />base for comparison. Temperature data from the Hayden station was used as well. <br />RESULTS <br />x = sample mean for woody plant density data. <br />Sample data from 2011 are presented in Tables A -1 through A -14. Sampling data are summarized in <br />Appendix C. Data on cover, production, and woody plant density are in Table C -1. Data on species density <br />by lifeform are tabulated for sampled areas in Table C -2. Data on relative cover by lifeform are compiled in <br />Table C -3. Statistical adequacy of sampling is reviewed in Table C-4. The list of plant species observed <br />during 2011 (reclaimed and reference areas) is included as Table D -1. Seed mixes used in the reclamation <br />areas are included for reference in Appendix E. Photographs of representative locations within the <br />reclaimed areas sampled in 2011, as well as photographs of the Reference areas, are included in Appendix <br />F. Graphs of vegetation and climate data are presented in Figures C -1 a through C -11 of this report. <br />In the plant cover descriptions below, species listed as "also present" were not "hit" during point- intercept <br />sampling but were present within one meter of either side of the 50 m sample transect line. Unless <br />otherwise stated, all cover values reported below are for all -hit data. Percentages are rounded to one <br />decimal place to facilitate discussion of the results. <br />13 <br />