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A- Production - 2003 Rhnse /// Bond Relense Determination of sample adequacy in the field was based upon the "wet weights" of clipped vegetation (Table A-2). Adequacy was reached with fifreen samples on the Dryland Reference Area by averaging the production values for three quadrats collected along each transect. Sample adequacy was not achieved on either Dryland Reclaimed Area when utilizing the same methodology, or when each quadrat was counted as an individual sample. Sampling ceased on each reclaimed area upon completion of the seventeenth transect (51 total quadrats collected). The sample mean for herbaceous production values on the Dryland Reclaimed Areas are significantly greater than the sample mean on [he Dryland Reference Area (Tables A-5, A-7, and A-9). TABLE A-2 CHIMNEY ROCK MINE 0.5 SQUARE-METER PRODUCTION PLOTS SUMMARY OF 2003 SAMPLE ADEQUACY CALCULATIONS Mean Field Actual Computed "Wet" Weight Standard Sample Adequate Area (grams) Deviation Size Sample Size East Pit Reclaimed Area 41.53 35.45 51 122.90 Barren Ridge/Revision 1 Reclaimed Area 32.20 38.28 51 238.49 Dryland Reference Area 12.18 3.08 15* 11.54 I S hansects; each transect value determined by averaging the 3 quadrnts collected along each transect Density calculations were based upon the resulting total "dry" weights. The mean production density standard for the year 2003 sampling event, established on the Dryland Reference Area, is 121 lbs./acre. The estimated production density on the East Pit and Barren Ridge/Revision I Reclaimed .Areas is 313 lbs./acre and 226 lbs./acre, respectively. The estimated production density on the reclaimed areas easily exceeds the 90°/n standard required when compared to the reference area data. Species Diversity - 2003 Analysis of the vegetative cover for life-forms present across the dryland sampling units iudicates the area is dominated by pereimial grasses. The Dryland Reference Area is dominated by perennial grasses with 52.94 percent of the relative cover (30.59 percent relative cover by blue grants), followed by annual forbs (17.65 percent), amoral grasses (10.59 percent), peremtial forbs (9.41 percent), and shrubs and sub-slu-ubs (5.88 percent). Botlt Dryland Reclaimed Areas are dominated by peretmial grasses, which have relative cover values greater than 50 percent. The Dryland Pasture and Rangeland/Wildlife standard for species diversity, as stated in the perntit, calls for the establishment of two cool-season grasses, one warns-season grass, and either one peretmial forb or one shrub, each with a relative cover value between 3 and 60 percent. On the East Pit Reclaimed Area, the cool-season grass standard has been achieved by the following five species and their corresponding OS3-Chimney Rock_PH360ND_2003_(1an.22D4)a A-4