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sample transect line. Unless otherwise stated, all cover values are for absolute first-hit <br />data only. Percentages are rounded to facilitate discussion of the results. <br />2011 Reclaimed Area Cover <br />(Photographs 1-5) <br />(Table 1) <br />Introduced annual and biennial forbs were the predominant lifeform observed in the <br />2011 Reclaimed Area, contributing 37.0 percent first-hit cover with yellow sweet clover <br />(Melilotus officinalis) comprising the majority with 25.0 percent cover and burning-bush <br />(Bassia sieversiana aka Kochia scoparia) comprising 5.6 percent cover. Native <br />perennial cool season grasses, native annual and biennial forbs, and native perennial <br />forbs were also present each contributing 1 percent cover or less to the total first hit <br />foliar cover. Of planted native perennial grass species, five were encountered in very <br />small amounts including mountain brome (Bromus polyanthus), thickspike wheatgrass <br />(Elymus lanceolatus ssp lanceolatus), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus), <br />green needlegrass (Nasella viridula), and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii). <br />Also observed in the area but not in measurable amount were the noxious weeds <br />houndÂ’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), neither <br />were quantitatively encountered. <br />Total average vegetation cover for first-hits was 39.2 percent. Allowable all-hit <br />herbaceous cover was 5.78 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock <br />averaged 1.0, 17.8, 41.8, and 0.2 percent, respectively (first hits). Total non-noxious <br />species encountered in the 2011 reclaimed area was 29. Average non-noxious species <br />density was 17.0 species per 100 sq. m. <br />Sagebrush / Rabbitbrush Area Cover <br />(Table 2) <br />Native perennial cool season grasses were the predominant lifeform observed in the <br />Sagebrush / Rabbitbrush Area contributing 18.5 percent, of which Agassiz bluegrass <br />(Poa agassizensis), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), and slender wheatgrass <br />(Elymus trachycaulus) contributed 10.7, 6.1, and 1.3 percent first-hit cover, <br />respectively. Native shrubs contributed the second most cover, with 13.5 percent first- <br />6 <br />