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v <br />4.3 Diversity <br />Colowyo's diversity standard for this Phase III block is replacement of 2 perennial grasses with <br />between 3% and 50% relative cover (composition) and total forb relative covers excluding noxious weeds <br />between 1% and 50% in each target reclamation unit (permit section 4.15.8). As indicated on Charts 6 <br />and 7 and Table 2 (above), evaluation of diversity on the Phase III bond release area revealed 5 <br />perennial grasses (between 3% and 50% relative cover) and perennial forb composition of 14.87% in <br />2013 and 6 perennial grasses (between 3% and 50% relative cover) and perennial forb composition of <br />11.35% in 2014. The East / West Pit Phase III area exceeds the species diversity standards for both <br />2013 and 2014. <br />Chart 6 <br />Number of Perennial Grass Species with between 3% and 50% Relative <br />Cover - 2013 & 2014 <br />8 <br />Perennial Grass <br />6 Standard -2 <br />w <br />a <br />4 <br />0 <br />East/ West Mountain Sagebrush <br />Pit Shrub <br />Reference Areas <br />East/ West I Mountain Sagebrush <br />Pit Shrub <br />Reference Areas <br />2014 <br />Chart 7 <br />Relative Perennial Forb Cover (excluding Noxious Weeds) - 2013 & 2014 <br />60 <br />50 — — — — — — — <br />`w 40 <br />s <br />� 30 Forb Standard between <br />1% and 50% <br />9 <br />d <br />C 20 <br />10 <br />r� <br />East/ West Mountain Sagebrush East/ West Mountain Sagebrush <br />Pit Shrub Pit Shrub <br />Reference Areas Reference Areas <br />1 For this evaluation only, perennial forbs were included in the comparison. However, the approved permit (4.15.8) <br />does not preclude this inclusion of allowable annual/biennial forbs. <br />July 2015 Page 27 <br />