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Table 1. Vegetative Coverage Values, Mesita Hill Site, July 2015. <br /> Area Average Total Cover Range of Cover Average Shrub Cover <br /> (%) (%) (%) <br /> Northern portion 40 30 to 50 20 <br /> Northeast portion 75 30 to 90 65 <br /> Main Pit—north slope 35 10 to 40 30 <br /> Main Pit—east slope 40 15 to 60 35 <br /> Main Pit—south slope 30 10 to 45 20 <br /> Main Pit—west slope 20 5 to 30 10 <br /> Northwest portion 70 10 to 85 60 <br /> Western portion 65 20 to 90 30 <br /> Southwest slope 40 30 to 100 25 <br /> Southern portion 50 40 to 100 30 <br /> Southeastern hillock 60 45 to 80 45 <br /> Central flat 20 1 to 30 12 <br /> In the last two years with above average winter and spring precipitation, shrub cover has <br /> increased significantly. New seedlings were observed in all reclaimed portions giving evidence <br /> of self-regeneration by the native vegetation (Photo 2). Exceptions to the good cover were <br /> observed in a couple of limited areas in and around minor remaining pits and outcrops on the <br /> western portion where vegetative cover was low (Photo 3). Even in these areas some plant <br /> presence was observed during this annual monitoring, attesting to the beginning of soil system <br /> development on these raw run-of-mine surfaces. <br /> Slopes of the Main Pit (central north in Figure 3, Appendix A; Photo 4) had variable cover <br /> depending on location. The upper portion, where the slopes were reduced and topsoil placed, <br /> have good to excellent cover. The lower slopes have low vegetation cover with some bare <br /> areas. <br /> The central flat area with the run-of-mine scoria surface averaged 20%vegetative ground cover, <br /> double or more the cover last year (Photo 5). This area has been slower to grow and <br /> regenerate than the remainder of the site. This may be due to the lower moisture retention of <br /> the substrate and a greater surface temperature during the summer days from the dark surface <br /> and lack of topographic relief. The southwest portion of the central flats continues to have very <br /> low cover with large areas bare, but also had increase cover from previous years. <br /> Vegetation Diversity <br /> Plant species diversity was good during the 2015 inspection and has continued to increase <br /> 5 <br />