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1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />• The following report presents a baseline vegetation inventory of the <br />proposed portal site for Colorado Westmoreland Ines, Orchard Valley Mine. <br />The report describes in detail the purpose and objectives for the inventory, <br />the methodology used to accomplish the inventory and results of the inventory <br />followed by a brief discussion. <br />1.1 Purpose <br />The purpose of this vegetation inventory was to provide a qualitative <br />and quantitative baseline description at the study area to satisfy: 1) Rule <br />2.04.10 - Vegetation Information and 2) Rule 4.15.7 - Determining <br />Revegetation Success: General Requirements and Standards for preparing a <br />mining permit a plication with the state of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Division (CMLRD. <br />1.2 Objectives <br />The vegetation inventory was conducted to: 1) determine tF~e percent <br />cover of vegetation canopy, rock, litter and bare ground in affected <br />vegetation types; 2) determine the annual production of herbaceous species in <br />affected vegetation types; 3) estimate the density of woody species in <br />affected vegetation types; 4) determine carrying capacity; 5) combine a <br />• vegetation ma of the area; 6) compile a list of species observed within the <br />study area; 7~ assess the presence or absence of threatened and/or endangered <br />plant species within the study area; and 8) obtain qualitative information <br />concerning minor vegetation types. <br />2.0 METHODS <br />2.1 Vegetation Type Delineation <br />Vegetation type delineations were made based on 1) the 1983 CMLRD <br />permit 2) the physiognomic character of the vegetation, and 3) the dominant <br />species present. Woodlands were distinguished from shrublands by the <br />differences in the physiognomic character between the two types. Names for <br />the types were derived from the species predominantly responsible for the <br />physiognomic character of the vegetation. Acreages were determined with the <br />use of a planimeter. <br />2.2 Species List <br />A list of species was compiled from species noted during field work <br />and added to the list of species presented in the 1983 CMLRD permit. Field <br />identifications were made using a floral key by Harrington, 1964. Weedy <br />• species were determined using Thornton et al., 1974. The authority for <br />scientific names are from Weber and Johnston, 1976. Common names are from <br />Nickerson et al.(1976). <br />1 <br />