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Shrub density data is included in Tables 2.2-1 and 2.23 for interest only, as shrub density is not a <br />Phase II bond release requirement. The data also serves to help demonstrate that plant diversify is <br />being achieved on all Range Sdes A and B bond release blocks. <br />Table 2.2-2 breaks out sampling resufls at a plant life form and plant species level for cover. This table <br />gives a good indication of the overall performance of individual grass and fort species in reclaimed <br />vegetation communities. Dominant grass species inctude a variety of wheatgrasses and Basin <br />Wildrye. Other grasses that appear to be well established and contributing to plant community <br />diversity are Kentucky Bluegrass, fescues and Mountain Brome. The dominant fort species is Cicer <br />Milkvetch. Other established (orbs that contributed significantly to diversity are Western Yarrow, <br />Alfalfa, Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Lewis Flax. Non-seeded perennial fort species that are established <br />at low but stable levels are Tapertip Onion, Peavine and Dandelion. Detection of several noxious <br />weeds (Whitetop, Musk and Canada Thistles) at low levels indicates a need to continue weed control <br />efforts, which is occurring on an annual basis. <br />Stem density resufls in Table 3 demonstrate that three shrub species, Big Sagebrush, Bitterbrush and <br />Mountain Snowberry, make up 96% of all shrubs counted on belt transects. The remaining species in <br />Table 2.23 were encountered sporadically in low numbers across mine reclamation. Additionally, <br />shrub clumps provide mature Gambel's Oak, Chokecherry and Saskatoon Senricebery plants which <br />add greatly to both community and structural diversely on Trapper's reclaimed lands. A qualitative <br />observation made while monitoring shrubs during 1995 and 1996 was that s~ majority of woody plants <br />established on reclaimed areas have been heavily browsed by wildlfe species. This heavy wildlife <br />browsing appears to limd woody plant growth and establishment potential. <br />Relative cover evaluation of perennial plant species and life forms for block. and parcel summaries in <br />Appendix 2.2 conclusively demonstrates that established plan! species are exhibding seasonality and <br />species composition supportive of the post-mining land use. <br /> <br />2-3 <br />