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species. Of the species encountered within the extended reference area, twenty-one were <br /> native and three were introduced. Perennial species outnumbered annual species by twenty- <br /> three to one. All identified herbaceous species were cool season. All of the woody plants were <br /> deciduous. <br /> 3.2 QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION: RECLAIMED AREAS <br /> The eligible reclaimed areas within this report have been reclaimed for nine years. Specific <br /> vegetation information for the reclaimed areas is contained in Tables 1, 3, and 5. <br /> 3.2.1 Total Vegetation Cover: Reclaimed Areas <br /> Fifteen quantitative cover samples were collected in the reclaimed areas eligible for Phase III <br /> bond release. Total mean vegetation cover of the reclaimed areas was 55.87 percent. <br /> Graminoids provided 29.73 percent mean vegetation cover and 55.04 percent relative <br /> vegetation cover, forbs accounted for 21.73 percent mean vegetation cover (36.34% relative <br /> cover), and woody species contributed 4.40 percent mean vegetation cover and 8.61 percent <br /> relative cover. <br /> The most frequently encountered species was Agropyron smithii(western wheatgrass), present <br /> in 100 percent of the 15 transects sampled for vegetation cover. Achillea lanulosa (yarrow) <br /> was found in 87 percent of transects. Bromus marginatus (mountain brome), Poa sandbergii <br /> (Sandberg bluegrass), and Epilobium brachycarpum (tall willow herb)were encountered in 60 <br /> percent of the cover transects. Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce), Onobrychis viciafoliae <br /> (sainfoin),and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius were found in 53 percent of all sampled transects. <br /> All other species were encountered in fewer than fifty percent of the vegetation cover transects. <br /> Within the reclaimed areas the perennial native grass Agropyron smithii was dominant, <br /> contributing 12.80 percent total vegetation cover and 22.90 percent relative cover. Poa <br /> sandbergii contributed the second highest vegetation cover,with 7.47 percent total mean cover <br /> (14.50% relative cover). Achillea lanulosa contributed 3.60 percent mean cover (6.30% <br /> relative cover),and Bromus marginatus provided 3.60 percent mean vegetation cover and 6.09 <br /> percent relative vegetation cover. Epilobium brachycarpum with 3.20 percent mean cover, <br /> Astragalus cicer (cicer milkvetch) with 2.67 percent total mean vegetation cover, and <br /> Symphoricarpos rotundifolius (2.53% mean cover) each contributed 5.04 percent relative <br /> vegetation cover. Elymus cinereus (Great Basin wildrye), accounted for 2.00 percent mean <br /> and 4.62 percent relative cover, and Lactuca serriola (2.80% mean cover) and Onobrychis <br /> viciafoliae(2.67%mean cover)each provided 4.41%relative cover. Agropyron trachycaulum <br /> (slender wheatgrass) accounted for 1.60 percent mean cover and 3.15 percent relative <br /> vegetation cover. Phleum pretense (timothy) and Quercus gambelli each contributed 2.10 <br /> percent relative cover(1.20% and 1.07%mean cover,respectively). <br /> Vegetative litter (prior year's growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br /> comprised 33.07 percent ground cover overall within the reclaimed areas. Bare soil comprised <br /> 7.87 percent of the ground cover. Rock accounted for 3.20 percent of the ground cover <br /> sampled. <br /> Oxbow Mining,LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 7 <br /> 2020 Phase III Bond Release(Year 1):Vegetation Report <br />