2013-04-15_PERMIT FILE - C1994082 (6)

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vegetation, necessary for quick and long -term stabilization, is highly competitive and will dominate for • a considerable period of time. Even in unseeded areas, herbaceous vegetation (perennial) establishes in a relatively short time, and will maintain a presence as an early to mid - successional community for some time (see Table 42 in the 1990 Revegetation Monitoring Report for the Seneca II Mine). Livestock grazing has historically been the most intensive land use on the permit area Wildlife management has generally been restricted to managing populations through harvest (hunting), while wildlife habitat development or improvement has not been intensively pursued. Since the surface ownership of the permit area is, for the most part, private (see Tab 3, Adjudication File), the postmine surface control will be similar. Thus, because of economics, leasing patterns, and agriculture as a major industry in the area, the primary postmine land use will revert to livestock grazing. Land use will be similar on the Federal and State lands within the permit However, wildlife and associated uses will not be excluded. Revegetation will concentrate on stabilization and forage resources while backfilling and grading practices will provide topographic diversity and stockwater developments. The size of the reclaimed areas is not large in relation to the surrounding undisturbed lands and these areas are irregularly shaped. The regional habitat will be enhanced compared to the premine situation. These practices will concurrently satisfy the needs of livestock and wildlife. Livestock grazing on • reclaimed lands will encourage reestablishment of native plants, species diversity, and woody plant density (see the 1991 -1993 Revegetation Monitoring Reports for the Seneca II Mine, Wadge Pasture grazing discussion). A common range improvement /rehabilitation practice is the reduction in, or elimination of woody plant vegetation in areas used by livestock. This allows plant growth resources to be directed towards the herbaceous component, thus increasing the useable herbaceous forage production for livestock, as well as wildlife. It also improves accessibility and utilization by removing dense and many times impenetrable thickets of brush. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has stated that dense shrub communities could be thinned or "opened up" by various means including mining, thus providing benefits to wildlife at the same time (Whitaker, 1982). Surficial impacts (e.g., range improvements or range fires) in native sagebrush or clonal mountain brush stands may be relatively short-lived. Frischnecht (1963) found sagebrush readily reinvaded brush stands, which had been removed. In a summary of findings by others, Kimball, et al. (1985) stated Gambel oak stands impacted by fire had the same structure prior to the fire in 18 to 20 years. • The more drastic disturbances associated with mining will require longer periods for woody plant reestablishment Successional time frames (starting from primary levels) and patterns, applied reclamation practices, level of disturbance, and the inherent developmental requirements of native PR -02 2 Revised 01106