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Vegetative litter (prior yeazs growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />• comprised an average 16.20 percent ground cover. Bare soil comprised 34.60 percent <br />of the cover encountered, and the rock component accounted for 0.80 percent. <br />IV. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS <br />Four separate revegetated areas at the West Elk Mine were sampled to provide data on <br />the components and nature of ground cover within each area. Vegetation cover was <br />highest on those areas where reseeding was undertaken on topsoil (Topsoil Pile, <br />UDWP). Substrate and slope angle affects development of the revegetation plant <br />species, as was obvious through comparisons of the areas sampled at the Lone Pine <br />Gulch Surface Facilities Area. Vegetation cover at the Water Tank Site was <br />intermediate in value when compared to the other areas sampled. This correlates well <br />with observations regazding slope and substrate. Species composition was also affected <br />by substrate and slope angle. The Topsoil Pile had the greatest number of species <br />encountered, followed closely by the Water Tank Site. The number of species <br />encountered at the Water Tank Site may be inflated by the greater number of transects <br />sampled. Two revegetation species were encountered on the steep rocky substrate of <br />the Staging Area alone; Agropyron spicatum and Sanguisorba minor (small burnet). <br />• These species presence in this area alone may indicate environmental conditions <br />favorable to them. Finally, woody plant persistence was noted adjacent to the <br />reclaimed and revegetated areas in both sites. Invasion of woody species was noted <br />along the perimeters of each area. <br />Vegetation cover sampling at three areas within the Lone Pine Gulch Surface Facilities <br />Area and at the Water Tank Site was undertaken to assess the success of revegetation at <br />each area. This informarion will be used to evaluate soil loss at each area and <br />determine the necessity of maintaining redundant sediment control measures at each <br />location. Vegetation has been successfully established at each azea, though vegetation <br />cover varies, depending on substrate, slope angle, and stand age. <br />• <br />-(r <br />