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<br />contribute 36.6% estimated relative cover in the Hillside plots while the nine species in <br />the Valley Bottom plots contribute only 15.7% relative cover. As the reclaimed areas <br />mature, the relative cover and diversity of annual biennial species are expected to <br />decrease. <br />In the Hillside plots, total absolute cover and total perennial absolute cover were <br />• <br />• <br />only estimated at 23.7% and 15.0% respectively. The perennial species value was <br />40.7% of the final community success target of 36.9% (90% of the standard). The <br />Valley Bottom plot perennial value of 30.4% was only 48.3% of the success target. <br />Both cover values are expected to increase in coming years barring extreme weather <br />conditions. <br />If plot cover values were close to actual community values, both reclaimed <br />areas would be considered in good shape with regard to meeting the species diversity <br />success standard. The top four perennial species in both areas were grasses, combining <br />for 62.6% and 77.8% relative cover in the Hillside and Valley Bottom plots <br />respectively. No species contributed greater than 40% relative cover in the Hillside <br />community; Dacrylis glomtrata contributed 42.4% relative cover in the Valley Bottom <br />plots. Therefore, while Hillside plot values would demonstrate compliance, Valley <br />Bottom values would not, though the latter were very close to being acceptable. <br />Although, plot values do not necessarily represent community values, they do seem to <br />indicate that diverse communities are taking root in each reclaimed area. <br />7 <br />~i%3~'etl ~/~o/~y /~'y' -3l <br />SEC 2 1 1998 <br />