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Introduction • This report presents an analysis of species diversity at the three reference areas located at Colorado Westmoreland, Int.'s (CWI) Orchard Valley I1ine. These data were obtained to assist in preparing [WI's seeding reclamation mixture and to form the basis of a reclamation success standard regarding species diversity. This information was compiled in accordance with current Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (MLRB) requirements to be included in [WI's permit application. .,,. Methods Species diversity was derived utilizing a species composition approach devised by MLR6. This approach is based on the relative cover of the dominant plant species in each plant community reference area. Plant species were considered dominant if they possessed three percent or greater relative cover. It should be noted, however, that for one reference area (mixed-shrub) this criteria was modified somewhat to include some species • which possessed relative cover values less than three percent. Once the dominant plant species for each reference area were determined they were presented in tabular form in order of dominance. Each species was further categorized as to its vegetative class, longevity, seasonality and origin. This information provides the basis of species diversity for each reference area and was compared to [WI's seeding reclamation mixture concomitant with the proposed post-mine land use goals. Results and Discussion Two reference areas were establised at [WI' s Orchard Valley Mine representing plan[ communities which were affected during raining activities. These include the pin}-or-juniper and iaixed-shrub plant communities. Since one of the proposed post -mine land use goals is rangeland for livestock, a third reference a rea was chosen which would best • represent a na tural rangeland situation in the vicinity of the Orchard