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Mr. William Balaz - 2 - September 9, 1988 <br />a very low perennial forb component. A few widely scattered individuals of <br />4loods rose (Rosa woodsii) were observed, but no woody plants were encountered <br />in any of thee ergfi~beTt transects. The site appeared droughty and most of <br />the plants exhibited low vigor. There were very.few annual weeds in the <br />stand, and there was essentially no evidence of erosion. <br />West Slope of East Pit Backfill <br />Seede a <br />Portions of the site were heavily dominated by vigorous stands of western <br />wheatgrass, with excellent ground cover and very little evidence of erosion. <br />Other areas were characterized by much less grass cover and less vigorous <br />vegetation, along with fairly extensive shallow rill erosion. In general, <br />vegetation cover appeared to be greater and rill erosion less frequent on <br />upper portions of the slope. Wo shrubs were observed and the perennial forb <br />component was again quite low. Erosion control ditches had been recently <br />constructed on the slope and appeared to be functioning effectively. The <br />ditches and associated berms had been seeded and mulched earlier this summer <br />and the disturbed soils were dominated by weedy annuals. <br />West Slope of East Pit Backfill <br />ee e a <br />The site was characterized by a large number of cool season grasses, with very <br />good ground cover, few annual weeds and very little evidence of erosion. <br />Dominant grasses were beardless bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron inerme), <br />~iestern wheatgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass, (Ay ropyron intermedium). <br />' Again very few woody plants or perennial fortis were o s~ , a~ody <br />plants were encountered in the sample plots. <br />' Reconnaissance Evaluation, East Side of East Pit Backfill <br />ee e a an <br />The steep slopes on the east side have experienced extensive rill erosion in <br />previous years and the vegetative stand is still relatively sparse. Annual <br />weeds comprise a significant component of the stand, along arith western <br />wheatgrass and lesser amounts of other cool season grasses including wild rye <br />' (Elymus sp), Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), hard fescue (Festuca <br />Ovina var. duriscula), and Kentuc~b~ uegrass oa pratensis). IJo s-Tiru s~or <br />perennial ors were evident. Grass establishment ss o~uTd-6e enhanced to some <br />' extent by erosion control ditches which were recently constructed. <br />Reconnaissance Evaluation, Barren Ridge Reclamation <br />Fa See ing <br />~ The site was characterized by low over-all cover (10-15 percent estimated) and <br />a high percentage of the vegetation was annual weeds. The site sho~•~s <br />I potential for establishment of a fairly diverse community as compared to the <br />East P1t backfill, however. Shrubs such as woods rose, rubber rabbitbrush <br />(Chrysothamnus nauseosus), and four-wing saltbush, along with winterfat (a <br />ha s ru an it s oot trefoil (a perennial forb) were represented in the <br />I stand, in addition to a number of cool season grasses. The site should be <br />monitored closely over the next two growing seasons to determine if the stand <br />is developing satisfactorily toward a more stable, perennial dominated <br />~ community. <br />