Laserfiche WebLink
The revegetation success standards for this reclamation type are based on the establishment of <br />reclaimed Irrigated Pasture as the postmining land use. Reclaimed Irrigated Pasture should be <br />able to attain a good level of productivity with only one to two grasses and a legume under <br />continuing and adequate management inputs. This includes scheduled irrigation, annual <br />fertilization based on soils tests and plant needs, and grazing management or proper harvest <br />methods. Annual fertilization of reclaimed Irrigated Pasture is a typical management practice to <br />maintain plant vigor and productivity. The requirements for establishment of woody plant <br />densities, species diversity, and seasonal variety are irrelevant to the Reclaimed Irrigated Pasture <br />vegetation type and postmining land use. Therefore, the standards of revegetation success for the <br />reclaimed Irrigated Pasture type will be based on herbaceous production and allowable plant <br />cover. <br />Nearly all farmers in the Nucla area harvest their irrigated fields at least one time during the year. <br />There are a few, who attempt a second and third cutting but the majority of the production comes <br />from the 1st cutting. The success standard for WFC's reclaimed Irrigated Pasture will involve a <br />statistically adequate sampling based comparison to the approved reference area which was <br />approved for the NH2 Mine in connection with TR -58 in 2008. <br />Map 2.04.10 -3 shows the location of the 6.81 acre Irrigated Pasture Reference Area, located to <br />the south of the existing New Horizon Mine office and Map 2.04.10 -4 shows the location of the <br />approved NH2 Dryland Pasture Reference Area, located near the Nucla airport. <br />Vegetation sampling for measuring reclamation success will be conducted to ensure a repeatable <br />and unbiased estimate of each vegetation population parameter. Measurements made on the <br />reference area will be done in the same manner and season as measurements made on reclaimed <br />lands, to ensure valid comparisons as specified in DRMS Regulation 4.15.11(1). Measurements <br />will be made in late May to early June immediately prior to 1 cut harvest of the reclaimed fields <br />and prior to any growing season livestock grazing in the reference area. <br />For all reclaimed Irrigated Pasture areas, vegetation cover and herbaceous production will be <br />measured at reclaimed sites and the corresponding reference area. Comparisons of the mean <br />parameter values between the reclaimed areas and the reference area will be used to determine <br />Section 2.05.4(2)(e) Page 15 January 2012 <br />