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3.0 RESULTS 3.1 QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION: EXTENDED REFERENCE AREA The extended reference area sampled was predominantly a dense mountain shrub vegetation community dominated by a dense woody canopy with scattered openings and a sparse shrub and herbaceous understory. Specific vegetation information for the extended reference area is contained in Tables 1, 2, and 4. 3.1.1 Total Vegetation Cover: Extended Reference Area Fifteen quantitative cover samples were collected in the extended reference area. Total mean vegetation cover of the extended reference area was 86.13 percent. Graminoids provided 3.33 percent mean vegetation cover, forbs accounted for 7.73 percent mean vegetation cover, and woody species contributed 75.07 percent mean vegetation cover. Total herbaceous vegetation cover,comprising the revegetation success criterion for reclaimed areas was 11.06 percent(the sum of graminoid and forb vegetation cover). The most frequently encountered species was Quercus gambelli (Gambel's oak), present in 100 percent of the 15 transects sampled for vegetation cover. Symphoricarpos rotundifolius (snowberry) was sampled in 93 percent of all transects. Aster glaucodes (aster) and Wyethia amplexicaulis (mule's ears) were present in 60 percent of transects. Amelanchier alnifolia (serviceberry) and Carex geyerii (elk sedge) were encountered in 53 percent of the cover transects. All other species were encountered in fewer than fifty percent of the vegetation cover transects. Overall, within the extended reference area the perennial deciduous shrub Quercus gambelli, was dominant, contributing 61.07 percent total vegetation cover. Symphoricarpos rotundifolius contributed the second highest vegetation cover, with 9.07 percent total mean cover. The small trees Amelanchier alnifolia and Prunus virginiana (chokecherry) provided 2.40 and 2.27 percent cover,respectively. Aster glaucodes and Carex geyerii each contributed 1.73 percent cover. The last significant cover contributor was Achillea lanulosa (yarrow), providing 1.07 percent mean vegetation cover. Vegetative litter (prior year's growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) comprised 11.47 percent ground cover overall within the extended reference area. Bare soil comprised 1.07 percent of the ground cover. Rock accounted for 1.33 percent of the ground cover sampled. 3.1.2 Total Herbaceous Production: Extended Reference Area Mean total herbaceous production within the Elk Creek Mine extended reference area in 2020 was 59.33 g/m2 (529 lb/ac). 3.1.3 Species Composition: Extended Reference Area Cover sampling identified three lifeforms and twenty-four plant species within the extended reference area this season. The lifeforms included six species of perennial grass, no annual graminoid species, twelve perennial forbs, one annual forb, and five perennial woody plant Oxbow Mining,LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 6 2020 Phase III Bond Release(Year 1):Vegetation Report