2013-07-11_REPORT - M1988044 (2)

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E. Status of older revegetation as of report date (describe growth rates, cover, invasive species, native invasion, and difficulties) - In June 2012, all older revegetation sites that had not been released were inspected by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS). All areas were approved for release. Therefore, these areas are no longer covered by bond and now fall under the purview of the lease requirements only. Although these areas are no longer of any significance for the Reclamation Permit, responsibility for these areas under the lease still exists. Examination of the released lands this year showed the effects of drought last year with reduced seed production and therefore less increase in density than has been seen in the past. Part of the reduced increase in density is due to the current vegetation approaching a closure with respect to the local environment. Thus, most changes involve the dynamics of the vegetation and the slow process of sifting out species incapable of long term survival due to the effects of selection during times of intense stress. As a result, species that are able to survive those extremes slowly take over the land vacated by those who depart. Due to the wet spring this year, inspection in early July showed that the needlegrasses will likely have an excellent seed production year which could translate into an even greater amount of needlegrass in the vegetation. This trend will result in better convergence of the reclamation vegetation with the characteristic moderate to locally high amount of needlegrass in the natural vegetation. Needlegrasses in the surrounding undisturbed vegetation also show strong growth and flowering this year. In more moist, level sites western wheatgrass, as expected, tends to dominate and it appears it will also have a good seed year. On the downside, cheatgrass, as noted elsewhere in this report, is having a banner year. The amount of cheatgrass in reclamation areas is similar to or even slightly less than many areas in the natural vegetation. This ubiquitous species that inhabits the entire Lowry Range continues to be a serious problem with no solution readily available. It will likely continue to be a problem, especially in years with a wet spring, for the foreseeable future and probably well beyond until research is able to develop a remedy to control the species and bring back the millions and millions of acres of cheatgrass devastated land throughout the western United States. Fortunately, on the Lowry Range the existing natural vegetation is presently quite strong and continues to hold its own against even intense growths of cheatgrass. This may be the case because most years are not especially favorable for cheatgrass and, in fact, favors the species composing the natural vegetation. If grazing is reintroduced to this area then it will be important to watch the cheatgrass population and be careful to not open the vegetation structure so much that cheatgrass begins to win the competition war. One of many factors in the abundance of cheatgrass on the property is likely due to years and years of overgrazing which weakened the vegetation so much that the cheatgrass was able to become dominant frequently enough to persist most everywhere. However, cheatgrass was probably a problem even before grazing when the Army used this land for military exercises. Military exercises seem to be just the thing that invasive weeds need to achieve dominance. Fort Carson has horrible invasive weed problems as do most Status report for 2013 due July 15, 2013 Page 8 of 16