REP47359

• Permit No: C1981047
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 3/20/1989
• Doc Name: 1988 VEGETATION COVER DATA BLUE RIBBON MINE PN C-81-047
• From: MLRD
• To: MATTHEW STUART HAYES
• Permit Index Doc Type: REVEG MONITORING REPORT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COLORADO
Roy Romer, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
FRED R. BANTA, Director
DATE: March 20, 1989
T0: Matthew Stuart Ha~y~es
FROM: Carl Mount ~~"'"
RE: 1988 Vegetation Cover Data, Blue Ribbon Mine, Permit C-81-047
Cover data was obtained at the Blue Ribbon Mine on September 20 and October
11, 1988. The point intercept method was employed for cover sampling using
the Division's optical point frame. Four 50-meter transects were randomly
laid out on the hill/upland area and four on the riparian area of the
reclaimed site. The ten-point optical point frame was then set up every ten
meters along and perpendicular to the transect line. Thus, ten points at each
ten meter interval were obtained. Data recorded included green vegetation
cover by species, rock, plant litter, and bare soil. Woody plant density was
measured on the hill and riparian areas on September 20 using four 50-square
meter belt transects on the hill/upland area and three on the riparian area.
As you can see from the attached vegetation data summary, vegetation cover
averaged 19 percent (Standard Deviation = 4.2) on the upland area. The upland
area was dominated by intermediate wheatgrass (Relative Cover = 28.92),
Mountain brome (RC=18.4%), and small Burnet (RC=15.8%) with lesser amounts of
slender wheatgrass (RC =7.9%), Canada thistle RC=7.9%), western wheatgrass
(RC=5.3%) and other wheatgrass (RC =5.3%). In total, seven species had
greater than three percent relative cover and no one specieshad greater than
40 percent relative cover. Total cover (vegetation, litter and rock) averaged
69 percent. No woody plants were found in any of the belt transect samples.
Blue Ribbon revegetation success criteria are included as attachments to this
memo for your convenience (Pages 113 and 113i of the Permit Application).
Total herbaceous cover is not yet approaching the required standard of 44.3
percent. No woody plants were found, however, negotiations are presently
underway with the Division of Wildlife regarding woody plant density
requirements so the information here is presently only for your benefit.
~d The riparian area showed vegetative cover of 44 percent (Standard Deviation =
a 11.9) with streamback wheatgrass (RC=33.0%), Bull thistle (RC=13.6%) and
' r unknown gp3 ecPC (RC=13.6%) the predominant species. Among the species with
~~ greater than three percent relative cover were Redtop, Yellow sweetclover,
White sweetclover, Canada thistle and Curly dock. As you can see from the
table, noxious weed species contribute total relative cover of 7.5 percent
(the two thistles). You may want to su es to the Blue Ribbon Coal Company
that, to enhance their reclamation success, they should start controlling the
noxious weeds in the riparian area so that it will meet the requirements of
Rule 4.15.8(6).
215 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203.2273 Tel. [phone]