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1 <br />~1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />C~ <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />i 1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />Vegetative cover data from the transects were used to determine sample size adequacy. Sample <br />size adequacy for vegetative cover was reached in all three areas with fifreen transects. Refer to <br />Table A-1 for a summarization of this data. <br />Herbaceous biomass production data from the clipped plots were used to determine sample size <br />adequacy. Sample size adequacy for herbaceous production .vas achieved with 15 transects in <br />the Pasture Reference Area, 36 in the Mine 1 Reclaimed Area, and 27 in the Eckman Park <br />Reclaimed Area. Table A-2 summarizes the sample adequacy data for herbaceous production <br />plots. <br />RESULTS <br />Revege[ation success for Phase III Bond Release at the Colorado Yampa Coal Mine was <br />evaluated according to the CDMG, Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release <br />Issues, April 18, 1995. Vegetation pazameters include: vegetative cover, herbaceous production, <br />and species diversity. Transect locations arc illustrated in Figures 1 through 3. The analysis and <br />results of each parameter aze contained in the following sections. <br />Vegetative Cover - 2000 <br />Sample adequacy results for vegetative cover on the two reclaimed and Pasture Reference areas <br />was based upon the total amount of live "hits", and is displayed in Table A-1. Evaluation of <br />standard success for vegetative cover is based upon the sampling conducted on the reference and <br />reclaimed areas in late June and early July of 2000. <br />Analysis of vegetative cover to determine revegetation success is based upon live "hits" on <br />approved species. Results from the summer of 2000 sampling event show that mean absolute <br />vegetation cover is significantly higher on the reclaimed areas than on the Pasture Reference <br />Area. Vegetative cover sampling on the Ivline 1 and Eckman Park Reclaimed Areas revealed <br />that relative cover by undesirable species (annual forbs, biennial forbs, and noxious weeds) <br />totaled 2.11 and 1.21 percent, respectively. Relative cover for the same undesirable species on <br />the Pasture Reference Area is 1.7~ percent. If the data in analyzed without any undesirable <br />species' data considered, the mean absolute vegetative cover on the Mine 1 and Eckman Park <br />Reclaimed Areas is 33.92 and 37.73 percent, respectively. These figures remain much greater <br />than the adjusted Pasture Reference Area total of 22.40 percent. Vegetative cover results from <br />the 2000 sampling event easily satisfy the requirements stipulated in [he permit. Tables A-5, A- <br />7, and A-9 display the results of the 2000 sampling event for vegetative cover on the reference <br />and reclaimed areas. <br />Production - 2000 <br />The sample mean for production values on the two reclaimed areas is significantly greater than <br />the sample mean for production values on the reference area (Tables A-6, A-R, and .4-101. <br />Determination of sample adequacy in the field was based upon the "wet weights" of clipped <br />vegetation (Table A-2). Adequacy was reached on the Pasture Reference Area with fifteen <br />A-3 <br /> <br />