Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />III. RESULTS <br />Savage and Savage has conducted vegetation monitoring at the Keenesburg Mine since <br />1994. The monitoring has always included the Osgood Sand Reference Area and the <br />1985, 1986, and 1987 Reclamation Areas. In 1994 and 1995, vegetative cover, <br />herbaceous production, and species composition were sampled. In 1996, vegetation <br />cover and species composition data were co]lected in preparation for Phase II bond <br />release. Results below present information from the 1996 sampling effort unless <br />otherwise indicated. <br />In 1994 we reported that conditions in the area were much drier than normal. In 1995 <br />the reverse was true with a wet spring and early summer. In 1996 the climate was dry <br />during the spring and summer, with some relief in the fall. <br />In 1996, four lifeforms were encountered during the sampling of the reclaimed and <br />reference areas. They included graminoids, forbs, succulents, and woody shrubs. <br />Thirty-two individual species were identified during sampling at the reference area and <br />reclaimed areas. The plant species encountered, their characteristics, and their <br />locations are presented in Table 1. <br />• OSGOOD SAND REFERENCE AREA <br />The Osgood Sand Reference Area represents approximately 3.4 acres of undisturbed <br />native vegetation within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The reference area is sited <br />immediately west of the mine access road and has been fenced to prevent grazing by <br />domesticated livestock. The reference area is flat and exhibits sheet flow drainage to <br />the east-southeast. Soils were generally sandy in texture, with very little incorporated <br />organic matter. The vegetation community was visually dominated by the woody shrub <br />Artemesia hlifolia (sand sage). Other visually obvious species included the graminoids <br />Boute/oua gracilis (blue grama), and Mdropogon hallii (sand bluestem). Specific <br />sampling information for the reference area is contained in Table 2. <br />Vegetation Cover <br />Total vegetation cover of the reference area was 43.20 percent. Based on cover <br />sampling, graminoids represented 21.33 percent mean cover (45.31 % relative cover), <br />forbs accounted for 3.60 percent mean cover (7.14% relative cover), succulents <br />represented 0.13 percent mean cover (0.22% relative cover), and shrubs 18.13 percent <br />mean cover (47.32% relative cover). <br />• The dominant vascular plant species of the reference area (based on cover) was <br />Artemesia 6lifolia. Artemesia 6lifolia accounted for 18.13 percent of the mean cover <br />-5- <br />