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Of the species encountered, five perennial grasses, and two annual forb represented <br />• greater than three percent relative cover. These species were: Calamovilfa longifolia <br />(40.71 %), Andropogon hallii (16.81 %), Bromus marginatus (9.14%), Bouteloua <br />gracilis (7.67%), Sporobolus airoides (6.19%), Helianthus annuus (6.19%), and <br />Erigeron bellidiastrum (3.83 %). <br />1987 RECLAMATION AREA <br />The 1987 Reclamation Area encompasses approximately 44 acres of reclaimed pit in <br />the south central area of the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The 1987 Reclamation <br />Area is composed of two parcels (west and east) separated by a north-south haul road <br />comdor. This area is nearly flat with a gentle slope (< 1 °) to the south and east. <br />Reclamation and coincident revegetation within this area took place in 1987. Replaced <br />soils were generally sandy in texture. Specific sampling information for the 1987 <br />Reclamation Area is contained in Table 5. <br />Vegetation Cover <br />Total vegetation cover of the 1987 Reclamation Area was 37.73 percent. Based on <br />cover sampling, graminoids provided 28.49 percent mean cover (86.05% relative <br />cover), forbs accounted for 5.33 percent mean cover (12.76% relative cover), and <br />• shrubs represented 0.40 percent mean cover and 1.19 percent relative cover. <br />The dominant plant species was CalamovilFa longifo/ia at 15.29 percent mean cover <br />(48.96% relative cover). Additional significant species included; Bouteloua gracilis <br />with 3.29 percent mean cover and 9.50 percent relative cover, Bromus marginatus with <br />3.18 percent mean cover and 8.01 percent relative cover, Agropyron cristatum at 2.13 <br />percent mean cover (6.53% relative cover), Agropyron smithii (western wheatgrass) <br />with 1.65 percent mean cover and 4.45 percent relative cover, Andropogon hallii with <br />1.06 percent mean cover (3.26% relative cover), He/ianthus annuus with 1.20 percent <br />mean cover and 3.26 percent relative cover, and Kochia scoparium (kochia) with 1.47 <br />percent mean cover (3.26% relative cover). <br />Vegetative litter (prior years growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised 47.47 percent ground cover within the 1987 Reclamation Area. Bare soil <br />comprised 14.80 percent of the ground cover. No rock was encountered in the cover <br />sampling for the 1987 Reclamation Area. <br />Species Diversity <br />Within the 1987 Reclamation Area three lifeforms were represented; graminoids, forbs, <br />and woody shrubs. The lifeforms included twelve species of perennial grass, six <br />• annual forbs and one perennial forb, and one woody shrub. Of the species encountered <br />on the 1987 Reclamation Area, fifteen were native and five were introduced. Perennial <br />-9- <br />