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evaluation, the vegetation pazameters of production, plant cover, species diversity and shrub density were sampled. These data were then utilized to evaluate the successfulness of revegetation efforts with respect to cover, forage production, species diversity, and shrub density. Transect Locations. To ensure that all of the reclaimed areas at the Raton Creek Mine had an equal chance of being sampled, the entire reclaimed azea was treated as a single sample unit and a totally randomized sampling effort was implemented. Utilizing the GPS unit, the extreme north, south, east and west boundaries of the area to be sampled were identified according to the 1983 Colorado State Plan Southern Zone (NAD 83) coordinate system. The interval used in the state plan coordinate system is based on foot increments. Given the typical real-time accuracy of this GPS unit of plus or minus 18 inches, all of the transect locations were field located at a sub- meter accuracy. Once the boundaries of the reclaimed azea were identified, then using a specially prepared computer program which generates random coordinates, the potential transect location points were identified. These coordinates were then entered into the GPS unit and the transect location starting points were marked in the field. At each transect location starting point, the transect direction was determined by selecting a random direction based on the degrees of the compass (1 to 360°). Once the orientation of the transect was determined, then the 50-meter tape was laid out along the transect alignment. All transects were kept within the reclaimed sample unit boundaries. In situations where the transect placement resulted in the transect alignment crossing beyond the reclaimed azea boundary, the transect line was backed up for that portion of the transect which crossed the boundary line 180 degrees. Where the 50-meter tape could not be placed within a narrow reclaimed area due to boundary constraints, then the transect line was changed 90 degrees at the point where the boundary line was crossed to ensure that the entire transect alignment was within the area to be sampled. Plant Cover. Plant cover was evaluated by sampling along an outstretched 50-meter transect tape. Along the outstretched tape, a total often previously identified and randomly selected intervals were selected as the sample locations for plant cover sampling. These ten points were then used as the sample locations for collecting plant cover. At each designated sample point, an inclined metal ten-point frame, one meter in height was positioned perpendiculaz to the tape and a sharpened metal rod was dropped. Each sampling point was sampled at ten-centimeter intervals along the ten-point frame. Even numbers where sampled on the right hand side of the tape and odd numbers were sampled on the left hand side of the tape. Each observation was recorded as to the specific plant species encountered as the rod was dropped. If no plant cover was encountered, then the observation was recorded as to the presence of plant litter, rock, or bare ground. Plant material produced in the 2004 growing season was considered as living plant material and all plant material produced prior to the current growing season was considered to be litter. The 100 data points collected along each transect were then summarized into a single datum for purposes of statistical analysis. Absolute and relative plant cover, species diversity, and plant life forms were determined based upon the observations