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Addendum: Grazing as an Enhancement to Revegetation Process <br />• The 1990 Annual Vegetation Survey noted the following problems in the 1985-87 seeded <br />areas: <br />There are several areas that are over-run with weeds. <br />2. In the 1985 and 1986 areas built-up litter has actually made the plants regress in <br />vigor and health. <br />3. Ground cover could be improved by grazing. <br />To improve, if not eliminate these problems, Coors has sought and obtained approval to <br />graze livestock on the reclaimed azeas. Grazing the reclaimed azeas is seen as improving <br />the vegetation in the following ways: <br />Although reduction in the weed population is seen as minimal in the fall, livestock <br />will graze the more palatable spring growth. <br />2. Grazing stimulates plant gowth and improves plant vigor. The health of the plant <br />is improved because there is less competition for sunlight. <br />3. Grazing physically disburses seed which will increase ground cover. Vegetative <br />• reproduction is also stimulated through grazing. <br />Grazing will not be considered in any area until the third year of vegetation establishment. <br />Coors will divide the revegetation areas up into manageable, fencible units, using roads <br />and areas not eligible for grazing as barrierslbreaks. The grazing season will be from May <br />1 through October 31 on a two pasture, switch-back, deferred schedule. Grazing will not <br />be allowed to interfere with the vegetation sampling program for monitoring or bond <br />release purposes. <br />Vegetation consultant (Savage and Savage, Inc.) will consult with representatives from <br />the SCS concerning the appropriate stocking rate on the reclaimed areas, number of <br />animal units, duration of pasturing before switching, type of animal unit best suited. The <br />initial stocking rate will be 3 acres per Animal Unit Month (AUM). This rate can be <br />adjusted up or down depending on the degree of use. <br />It is important to note that this is only planned grazing. Proper management techniques <br />and close supervision of the reclamation will be used to guard against over-use. <br />Representatives of the SCS have agreed to consult with Coors in order to determine <br />proper grazing use of the vegetation. If there is any question or concern about the degree <br />of use, grazing will be discontinued so that the current resources of vegetation are <br />protected. , <br />r~ <br />u <br />88 <br />