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Cover <br />2003 cover data on the reclaimed New Pryor Mine azea was 30.93%. The vegetative cover on the <br />reclaimed azea exceeds the reclamation success cover standazd. This 2003 vegetation cover value shows <br />a marked increase from the 8.93% vegetative cover measured in 2002. This increase shows that the <br />reclaimed community is self-sustaining and can recover from severe stress experienced during the <br />drought of 2002. Litter accounted for an additiona121.47% non-living cover, and rock cover added <br />another 1.6%. Total oflive-vegetation, litter and rock was 54%. Observation of the mine site shows a <br />minimum of erosional features, which would indicate that the 54% total cover is adequate to control <br />erosion. <br />Twenty-four species were recorded during the cover sampling. The twenty-four species consist of seven <br />perennial graminoids, nine perennial forbs, and eight annual or biennial species. Perennial grasses <br />combined made up 9.2% cover (29.7% relative cover). Perennial forbs comprised 15.86% vegetative <br />cover (51.3% relative cover). While annuals and biennials made up 5.9% vegetative cover (19.1% <br />relative cover). Six species contributed greater than 3% relative cover each. Those six species were; <br />Western wheatgrass, 10.78% relative cover, Smooth brome, 10.34% relative cover, Green needle-grass, <br />3.88% relative cover, Scarlet globemallow, 6.47% relative cover, Field bindweed, 40.09% relative <br />cover, and red-stem filazee, 13.79% relative cover. <br />Production <br />Herbaceous biomass collected at the New Pryor Mine on June 25, 2003 had and average air-dry weight <br />of 404.45 lbs/acre (45.32 g/Mzj. This data is found on Table 3. Based upon the 1981 pre-mining data, <br />the reclaimed azea productivity needed to achieve a minimum of 28.97 lbs/acre (3.24 g/Mz) to be <br />considered successful. The reclaimed area exceeds the productivity success standard ten-fold. During <br />sampling it was appazent the mine was being grazed as evidenced by cattle droppings. No cattle were <br />on the site at the time of the sampling. The mine is being utilized as rangeland as its post-mining land <br />use and shows considerable evidence of recovery from drought and grazing. The Division does not have <br />information regarding the number of cattle being grazed on this property or the duration of grazing. <br />Species composition <br />Sixteen perennial species were encountered, seven grasses and nine forbs. One forb, field bindweed <br />(Convolvulus arvense), is considered a weedy species on the Colorado state weed list but is not <br />considered a noxious weed in Huerfano County. Though not a preferred species, field bindweed has <br />benefits for erosion control and can provide shade cover for seedling establishment of preferred species. <br />Field bindweed is not considered noxious or toxic to livestock. <br />Of the seven perennial grass species measured, only one species, Smooth brome is considered <br />introduced, all others are native species. Three perennial grass species aze considered warm season, four <br />are cool season. Sampling occurred relatively eazly in the growing season for warm season species. <br />The timing of the sampling favored the cool season species. Two cool season grass species, Agropyron <br />smithii (Western wheatgrass) and Bromus inermis (Smooth brome) contributed greater than 10% relative <br />cover each with 10.78% and 10.34% respectively. Compilation of the cover data for the tree warm <br />season grasses resulted in a total of 4.32% relative cover contribute by warm season grasses. Two <br />perennial forbs contributed greater than 3% relative cover each. These two forbs were Convulvulus <br />