Suitability of shrub establishment on Wyoming mined lands reclaimed for wildlife habitat

Restoring coal mined land to pie-mining shrub cover, density height, commun ity composition, and diversity to renew wildlife habitat quality is a prior ity for reclamation specialists. Long-term shrub reestablishment success on reclaimed mined land in Wyoming and suitability of these lands for wildlif e habitat are unknown. Fourteen reclaimed study sites, 10 yr old or older, were selected on 8 mines in Wyoming to evaluate shrub reestablishment and w ildlife habitat value for antelope (Antilocapra americana) and sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Five sites were categorized as fourwing saltbu sh (Airplex canescens) sites and 9 as fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush (A. c anescens/Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis) sites. Published data desc ribing antelope and sage grouse-preferred habitat requirements in sage-brus h-grassland ecosystems were used to evaluate shrub community value of sampl ed sites for wildlife habitat. Mean shrub canopy cover, density, and. heigh t for fourwing saltbush sites were 5.8%, 0.23 m(-2), and 41.6 cm, respectiv ely compared to 5.6%. 0.61 m(-2), and 31.1 cm for fourwing saltbush/big sag ebrush sites. Two fourwing saltbush and 4 fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush s ites provided sufficient cover for antelope, while 2 fourwing saltbush and a fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush sites were adequate for sage grouse. Only 1 fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush site provided high enough shrub densitie s for sage grouse. One fourwing saltbush and 7 fourwing saltbush/big sagebr ush sites provided ample shrub heights For antelope, while 1 fourwing saltb ush and 8 fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush sites were sufficient for sage gr ouse, One fourwing saltbush and 1 fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush site prov ided enough grass, forb,, and shrub composition for antelope, while no site in either reclamation type was satisfactory for sage grouse. Shrub diversi ty was 3 times higher for fourwing saltbush/big sagebrush sites (0.984) tha n for fourwing saltbush sites (0.328). Individually, sites seeded with mult iple shrub species had higher canopy cover, density, and diversity compared with single-species shrub seedings. Achieving pre mining shrub cover, dens ity, height, community composition, and diversity within existing bond-rele ase time frames is unrealistic, considering that some native shrublands req uire 30-60 yr to reach maturity.