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in the seed mixes and the establishment of concentrated shrub seeding areas where competing <br />herbaceous vegetation will be controlled. The close proximity of undisturbed native vegetation, some <br />of which may occur within the mine affected area, will also enhance woody plant mitigation efforts <br />and provide greater edge than that present in the premine vegetation. <br />Shrub and tree seedlings will be selected from planting stock developed from regional genotypes <br />collected in close proximity to the mine site. Planting stock will primarily be containerized, although <br />bare root stock may occasionally be used. Since 1990, chokecherry, serviceberry, and Gambel oak <br />seedlings have been developed from seed collected at the Seneca II Mine site. This practice will <br />continue; however, poor shrub seed crops, particularly for species such as Gambel oak, are common <br />and may restrict the level at which a species may be used in a given year. Table 22 -8, Shrub and Tree <br />Planting Lists, lists the primary species and addition /substitute species to be used in planting areas. <br />The species selected represent those native species, which have a better opportunity for establishment <br />considering the more xeric site conditions of the reclaimed areas. <br />Aspen has been retained on the list in an attempt to reestablish some aspen areas in appropriate sites, <br />if available. The native aspen stands in the mine area represent the limit of this species range and <br />occur only because of unique soil, substrate, and moisture regimes, which are beneficial to aspen. <br />Mueggler (1988) and DeByle and Winokur (1985) have noted the relationship between the presence <br />of aspen and specific site conditions. Many or all of these site conditions are no longer present in <br />reclaimed sites over spoil and thus the reestablishment of aspen on the mine site is difficult at best. <br />Aspen will be planted in the mesic drainage tree and shrub sites. Exhibit 22 -1, Postmining <br />Vegetation, shows the aspen upland sites and the mesic drainage sites. Since aspen reestablish <br />primarily by suckering, adjacent undisturbed aspen clonal stands can increase the likelihood of aspen <br />reinvasion in those areas of minimized surface disturbance. <br />As noted earlier under site preparation, planting areas will have competing vegetation eliminated or <br />reduced to the best extent possible. The permanent seed mix will not be seeded in these areas. <br />Experience and observations of planted sites at the Seneca II Mine indicate control of competing <br />vegetation over the short term (e.g., using mechanical tillage) may only be partially beneficial since the <br />suppressed herbaceous vegetation redevelops faster than the seedlings can become adequately <br />established to compete with herbaceous vegetation. The use of pre - emergent herbicides or other <br />herbicides to aid in longer term suppression of competing vegetation will be a necessary component <br />of this program. <br />PI R e2 <br />19 <br />ReuisedII1106 - <br />.. zr <br />