Laserfiche WebLink
relative cover), forbs accounted for 1.9 percent mean cover (5.4 percent relative cover), <br />and shrubs 3.1 percent mean cover (8.8 percent relative cover). <br />The dominant plant species was Elymus lanceolatus (Streambank wheatgrass) at 13.4 <br />percent mean cover (38.0 percent relative cover). Three additional species provided <br />significant additional cover (greater than three percent relative cover). Those species <br />were: Bromus inermis (Smooth brome) with 3.8 percent mean cover (10.8 percent <br />relative cover), Agropyron smithii (Western wheatgrass) with 2.3 percent mean cover (6.5 <br />percent relative cover), Agropyron intermedium (Intermediate wheatgrass) with 1.9 <br />percent mean cover (5.4 percent relative cover), Quercus gambelii (Gambel's oak) with <br />1.7 percent mean cover (4.8 percent relative cover) and Festuca ovina (Sheep fescue) <br />with 1.1 percent mean cover (3.1 percent relative cover). <br />Forbs contributed 1.9 percent mean cover and 5.4 percent relative cover. If Brea arvense <br />(Canada thistle) is subtracted from this total the relative forb cover is 3.1 percent. The <br />species composition standard requires that two forb species contribute at least two <br />percent relataive cover. There are six native perennial forb species contributing to the <br />forb component. Several other forbs were observed on the reclaimed site, but they were <br />not `hit' during the quantitative sampling. The Division believes the forb component of <br />the species composition is acceptable. <br />The shrub component of the species composition is 1.9 percent mean cover and 8.8 <br />percent relative cover. Quercus gambelli (Gambel's oak),a native species, dominates the <br />shrub cover. It was planted and is also volunteering on the edges from the surrounding <br />community. Four shrub species contributed to the total. Reproducing shrubs were <br />evident and the shrubs are an important contributor to the species composition on the <br />reclaimed site. <br />Vegetative litter (prior yeaz's growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised 44.5 percent ground cover within the reclaimed area. Bare soil comprised 9.5 <br />percent of the ground cover encountered. Rock material was encountered 10.7 percent of <br />the time during cover sampling at the reclaimed area. <br />Species Composition <br />The total number of plant species encountered during cover sampling was nineteen. <br />Graminoids accounted for eight species, forbs -seven species, and shrubs -four species. <br />Of the species encountered thirteen were native and four were introduced. All species <br />encountered were either perennial or biennial. Seasonality of the reclaimed area species <br />was cool, with the shrubs being the only exceptions. The shrub population was <br />deciduous. <br />According to the data collected, both the shrub and forb components do not meet the <br />necessary two-species requirement. Only one shrub and one forb were encountered <br />during point-intercept sampling. Additionally, no warm season grasses were <br />7 <br />