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l AREA 1 <br />Area 1 has sufficient graminoid representation to meet the species composition success <br />standard. One species (Bromus tectorum) represents an element which is not especially <br />desirable in the revegetated landscape, the annual introduced grass. However, this <br />species represents only 7.5°lo total relative cover within Area 1. Other perennial <br />graminoids in Area 1 do not appear to be outwmpeted by Bromus tectorum, and <br />Bromus tectorum is an omnipresent species in the western states (as evidenced by its <br />presence in the reference azea). <br />' The five forb species which comprise greater than three percent each represent annual <br />or transient species in vegetative community development. It is anticipated that <br />Sanguisorba minor, a perennial forb, represents future development within the forb <br />1 component of Area 1 revegetated areas. Interestingly, sampling of the reference area <br />did not reveal any forts comprising greater than three percent relative cover this <br />season. <br />Atriplex canescens comprises greater than three percent relative cover in Area 1. This <br />native shrub is be expected to regenerate successfully and increase in representation <br />over the yeazs based on observations at other older surface mining sites in Colorado. <br />Area 1 meets the species composition success criteria of three grasses, one forb, and <br />one shrub with relative cover values greater than three percent. The combined relative <br />cover of these species (Agropyron cristatum, Agropyron smithii, Agropyron <br />trachycaulum, Erodium circutarium, and Atriplex canescens) is 50.696, less than the <br />85% limit. Further, no one species wmprises greater than 40% reLitive cover. <br />If al] forts species are discounted because they are annual (though seasonality was <br />specifically waived) Area 1 still meets or exceeds the species composition criteria for <br />graminoids and shrubs. The presence of Sanguisorba minor, a perennial forb, <br />' illustrates that desirable reclamation forts have been established, illustrating a trend in <br />the development of Area 1. <br />' AREA 2 <br />Area 2 has sufficient graminoid representation to meet the species composition success <br />standard. As in Area 1, Bromus tectorum represents an element which is not especially <br />desirable in the revegetated landscape, the annual introduced grass. While this species <br />is a co-dominant (16.0% relative cover), other perennial graminoids in Area 2 do not <br />' appear to be outcompeted by Bromus tectorum. The presence of eleven desirable <br />reclamation grasses serves to illustrate the diversity within Area 2. <br />The single dominant forb species illedicago saliva, comprising 20.69'o relative cover <br />meets the species composition requirement for forts. Medicago saliva is a desirable <br />leguminous forb providing nutrition for the replaced topsoil as well as wildlife and <br />cattle. <br />18 <br />