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turning the cattle in, the pasture is monitored for vegetation success. The stocking rate for the grazing <br />season is set using this data. <br />The following trends for production, shrub density, and species diversty are aDParent since the grazing <br />management plan was initiated. <br />Production in 1988 was 3,049 Ibs/acre, then after 5 years of grazing, 1993 production stood at 3,576 <br />Ibslacre (Table 1 and Figure 11. During this same time, the alfalfa component of production dropped <br />from 51 percent in 1988 to 44 percent in 1993. <br />Shrub composition measured as a percentage of cover increased from 0.3 percent in 1988 to 2.7 <br />percent in 1993 (Table 2 and Figure 2-. Shrub density in 1988 was 322 stems/acre and increased to <br />356 stemslacre in 1993. Though still short of the final goal, shrub density has increased substantially <br />and shows the desired positive trend. <br />Diversity, as measured in number of species per 100 square meters, increased from 19.8 in 1988 to <br />24.2 in 1993 (Table 2 and Figure 31. Vegetative ground cover continues to remain high at 78 percent. <br />Grazing of reclaimed lands can be an effective means of causing desirable changes in the plant <br />communities. The managed and sustained use of grazing can aid in achieving the required revegetation <br />community characteristics without additional disturbance or retreatment. Costs are restricted to <br />fencing and water distribution during the grazing season. Data from Seneca II Mine indicates grazing <br />has reduced alfalfa composition and increased species diversity and shrub density without impacting <br />the vegetative cover or productivity of the stand. Furthermore, by grazing these areas, Peabody <br />Western demonstrates the ability of the reclaimed land to sustain the postmine land use. <br />