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<br />not exceed 75%, and that any one species not have greater than 40% relative <br />' cover. <br />' 2.3 SHRUB DENSITY <br /> Shrub densities were determined by counting the number of shrubs in a 2 x 20 <br /> meter plot. A total of fifty plots were sampled throughout the reclaimed <br /> area. Forty of these plots were in areas in the third growing season or <br />' older with the remaining ten plots in areas in the second growing seasoh. <br /> Data sheets from the sampling are included in Appendix A. <br />' <br /> 2.4 PRODUCTIVITY <br />' Productivity was determined by clipping a total of 35 one meter square <br /> plots, 25 of which were in areas in the third growing season or older. <br /> Perennial grasses and fortis found within the plot were clipped to the grdund <br /> and oven dried. Dry matter weights were then calculated on a per acre <br /> basis. <br />' 3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 VEGETATION COVER <br />A weighted average of reclaimed areas indicates a vegetation cover of 62% <br />' for all reclaimed areas. Areas in the third growing season or older had a <br />weighted average cover of 61% while areas in the second growing season had a <br />' cover value of 68%. Sampling conducted during 1985 found cover values <br />ranging from~9 - 54%;with a weighted cover value of 52%. Adverse climatic <br />' conditions during the summer of 1985 may be responsible for the lower cover <br />values in 1985. Total cover for the reclaimed areas is listed in Table 5. <br />' 3.2 SPECIES DIVERSITY <br />' Results indicate a dominance by a few species although numerous species were <br />encountered in the areas sampled. Table 6 lists the relative cover fdr the <br />' species found in each sampling area, and lists the four dominant grasses and <br />one forb for each transect for comparison to the species diversity standard. <br />' Annual vegetation has been excluded from the data included in Table 6. <br />-6- <br />