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species contributed between 12 and 24 percent relative cover. These species included Agropyron intermedium and Astragalus titer, as well as Chrysothamnus nauseosus Agropyron smithii, and Artemisia tridentata. The lack of dominance by one or two species (as represented by relafive cover) indicates a maturing of the plant community. The relative contribution of the lifeforms in the community has changed between 2000 and 2006. In, 2000, gtaminoids contributed 48.55 percent of the relative cover, forbs 33.45 percent, and shrubs 18.00 percent. In 2006, graminoids again contributed the highest level of relative cover (41.45%), while shrubs overtook forbs in contributions (34.19 and 24.35%, respectively). The relative cover contributions by the lifeforms in 2006 also reflect a maturation in the vegetation community as stand age leads to competition between shrubs, forbs, and graminoids, as well as definition of microenvironments and niche spaces for the lifeforms and individual species. The contributions of individual species have changed between 2000 and 2006 as illustrated in Figure 5. The relative cover contributions of Agropyron cristatum, t Oryzopsis hymenoides, Astragalus titer, Artemesia frigida, and Atriplex confertifolia have remained the same or close to the same over the six yeaz period. The relative cover contributions of Agropyron intermedium, Poa ampla, Melilotus offrcinalis, and ' Penstemon strictus have significantly decreased between 2000 and 2006. Whether this is related to succession in the vegetation community or precipitation regime is open to further investigation, but the trend is notable. The above decreases in relative cover ' contributions by those noted species have been countered by increases in others, notably Agropyron smithii, along-lived native cool season grass, the ubiquitous annual Bromus tectorum, and the shrubs Artemesia tridentata and Chrysothamnus nauseosus, dominants ' of the adjacent native shrub communities. 5.0 CONCLUSION The quantitative vegetative cover and species composition data indicate that the permittee ' has established a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety as the original vegetation. The revegetated azea is capable of self-regeneration ' and plant succession. The data shows development of a stable, self-sustaining vegetation community, with seasonality and diversity sufficient to demonstrate successful reestablishment of vegetation on the reclaimed area. Fastside Goal Comparry Fastside Mine Page 7 2006 Vegetation Sampling Report