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<br />' Dominant fort species included Salso/a kali (Russian Thistle) at 1.8% mean cover <br /> (9.7% relative cover), Descurainia Sophia (Flixweed) at 1.6% mean cover (8.6% <br /> relative cover), Erodium circutarium (Filaree) at 1.2% mean cover (6.5% relative <br />cover), Kochia scoparia (Kochia) at 0.8% mean cover (4.3% relative cover), and <br /> Chorispora tenella (Blue Mustard) at 0.6% mean cover and (3.2% relative cover). <br />' The above species all represent annual short-lived species characteristic of disturbed <br /> azeas. A species which did not represent more than 3% relative cover, but was present <br /> and represents a perennial reclamation species was Sanguisorba minor (Small Burnet) at <br />' 0.2 % mean cover and I.1% relative cover. <br /> The dominant woody plant species was .9triplex canescens (Four Wing Saltbush) <br />' representing 1.4% mean cover and 7.5% relative cover. <br /> The total number of species encountered during cover sampling on Area 1 was eighteen <br /> (18). Graminoids accounted for eight species, fortis seven species, and shrubs and <br /> suffrutescent shrubs three species. Of the species encountered on Area 1, six were <br /> native and twelve were introduced. Perennial species outnumbered annual species by <br />eleven to seven. Seasonality of Area 1 species was split between cool season, warm <br /> season and evergreen species. Graminoids were all cool season species. All forb <br /> species were identified as cool season with the exception of Kochia scoparia (Kochia) a <br />' warm season species. The shrub and suffrutescent shrub species were all evergreen. <br />' A developing cryptogamic crust was observed within the older azeas of Area 1, <br />accounting for 0.2% ground cover. The cryptogams were predominantly mosses. <br />' Vegetative litter (prior years growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised 19.8% ground cover within Area l . Rock accounted for 2.2% ground <br />cover, in the form of small sandstone and siltstone material (< 10 cm diameter). Baze <br />soil comprised 45.7% of the ground cover encountered in Area I . <br />AREA 2 <br />' Area 2 comprises approximately 100 acres of reclaimed mining area and undisturbed <br />native vegetation at the western boundary of the New Horizon Mine 1 .area. Within <br />Area 2 approximately 69 acres were disturbed and reclaimed. Area 2 is composed of a <br />' generally southwest sloping area dissected by a drainage. The eastern portion of Area <br />2 was surface mined prior to 1978, with reclamation consisting of "topping" spoil <br />ridges. Subsequent reclamation work was performed both by Peabody Coal and the <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Inactive Mine Program. Area 2 slopes are <br />gentle (0-6 degrees) with steeper slopes adjacent to the drainage (up to 18 degrees). <br />Reclamation within Area 2 took place between 1978 and 1988 in the azeas sampled (see <br />Exhibit 2, Chronological History of Revegetation Activities, New Horizon Permit <br />document). Replaced soils were generally silty to silty loam in texture, with few rocks, <br />compared to the reference area. Almost 50% of Area 2 was reclaimed and revegetated <br />without the benefit of topsoil. This was in accordance with the permit in effect at the <br />time of reclamation. <br />' 9 <br />