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Reclamation at the Jacobs Ranch Mine
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Reclamation at this Powder River Basin mine in Wyoming
included creation of playa wetlands, which are a valuable
vegetation and wildlife habitat. These intermittent wetlands
are used by waterfowl as well as antelope, deer and elk. A
year-round habitat and seasonal water supply has been
reestablished, even though mitigation is not required by the
Army Corps of Engineers.
In addition, Jacobs Ranch received the 2000 Wyoming Game
and Fish Stewardship award. Reclamation operations -
re-sculpting the land to match its pre-mining contours,
applying top soil and planting native prairie grass, sage
brush and other plants - continue year round (except for
planting seeds, which is limited to spring and fall). |
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Especially rewarding is seeing how well native animals
peacefully co-exist with the mining operations, and reclaim
their native habitat as the mine advances. Elk, mule deer,
antelope, and burrowing owls are but a few of the wild animals
that live at Jacobs Ranch Mine. Some beef cattle also live on
the reclaimed land at the mine, helping in their own way to
enhance the growth of grass and hold down the advance of
unwanted weed.
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