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Suedes Diversity. Diversity in reclaimed areas will be based on a performance standard reflecting • <br />evaluation of monitoring data from reference areas and reclaimed areas cellected since 1987. Data from the <br />original baseline study completed in 1980 was not used in developing the standard because cover data was <br />collected as basal cover for all spedes, but included canopy cover for shrub species only. The use of <br />Daubenmire plots combined with the basal cover estimates resuRed in a lower number of spedes present <br />than what is now indicated in reference area monitoring. <br />Diversity for reclaimed areas is difficult to assess since these areas are quite dissimilar to the adjacent <br />native communities relaiive to those parameters which are representative of advanced successional status <br />(i.e., at subdimax or climax). In the native communities these parameters are diversity and woody plant <br />density. Furthermore, diversity in reclaimed areas is strongly influenced by grading and topsoiling <br />procedures, revegetation techniques, applied seed mines, climatic patterns dudng the liability period, and the <br />length of time for successional processes to ad upon the reclaimed community. <br />Observations in reclaimed areas indicate these areas have the potential to be more representative of the <br />native sagebrush type rather than the mixed brush type. Monitoring data supports these observations to <br />some extent. The number of perennial species with relative cover greater than three percent in the <br />sagebrush reference area is eight: three forbs, three grasses, and two shrubs (1991 monitoring data). • <br />Representative reclaimed area monitoring data from 1991 (Wedge Pasture) shows eight perennial species <br />occur with greater than one percent relative cover: three forbs, four grasses, and one shrub. Although three <br />percent relative cover was selected for the sagebrush reference area, a one percent relative cover value for <br />the reclaimed area is more representative of this community's early successional status. The above <br />compadson represents a general pattern of similadiy. A comparison between data for the mountain brush <br />reference area and the reclaimed area did not reflect a similar pattern due to the strong influence of that <br />type's woody component and, to a lesser degree, perennial forb component. <br />The diversity standard for the Seneca II Mine is as follows. <br />- Five perennial forbs with greater than 50 percent frequency; one perennial fort will each have greater <br />than 3% relative cover and two perennial forbs will each have relative cover greater than 1 percent. <br />These forbs will not have greater than 40 percent relative cover each. <br />Six perennial grasses with greater than 50 percent frequency; two perennial grasses will each have <br />greater than 1 percent. These grasses will not have greater than 40 percent relative cover each. <br />Three shrubs with greater than 5 percent frequency; one shrub will have relative cover greater than 1 <br />percent. • <br />13-34 Revised 0/15/93 <br />