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<br />stockpiles is not available but should generally have been less than 18 months. Approxi- <br />mately 25 acres were included in the sample unit. <br />Seven sites were identified for sampling during planning of the study. At The Time of <br />sampling, the first sample site was in an area of disturbance and was discarded. The <br />remaining six sites were sampled as planned. <br />The estimated shrub density (Table I) for the sample unit was 10.67 stems/50 m2 or 2134 <br />stems/hectare (864 stems/acre). Species with the highest densities were mountain snow- <br />berry and big sagebrush, contributing 54.6 percent and 31.2 percent respectively. Other <br />shrubs occurring on the site were common chokecherry (6.3 percent), Saskatoon service- <br />berry (4.7 percent), Gambel oak (1.6 percent), and Woods rose (1.6 percent). Shrub <br />heights ranged from a mean low of 10.0 centimeters for mountain snowberry and service- <br />berry to o mean high of 55.0 cm for big sagebrush. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the extent and composition of shrub <br />regeneration on a variety of reclaimed lands at the Seneca II Mine in northwestern <br />Colorado. Results of the study will aid in estimating the amount of shrub establishment <br />that is feasible in areas That have been topsoiled with soils from the native sagebrush <br />grassland and mixed brush vegetation types. Additionally, general reclamation methods <br />are evaluated as to their affects on the amount and extent of shrub establishment in <br />reclaimed areas. <br />In developing the study, it was assumed that three factors would contribute importantly <br />to shrub regeneration on reclaimed lands; natural invasion and regeneration from seed <br />sources in native stands outside the reclamation, a variety of native seed and rooting <br />materials would be present in topsoil, and direct hauling of topsoil would maximize the <br />viability of seed and rooting materials. <br />Invasion of shrubby species from native stands outside the reclaimed areas may be a <br />result of wind and water borne seed as well as seed transported into the area by ani- <br />mals. In areas of graded spoils with no topsoil, this is most probably the primary means <br />of natural shrub regeneration. <br />-7- <br />