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3.1.5.2 Herbaceous Productiou <br />• Total herbaceous production within the 2002 reclamation areas was 184.70 g/m2 (1647 <br />Ib/ac). Perennial grasses were the lazgest contributor to herbaceous production in this area <br />with 132.30 g/mz (1180 Ib/ac) or 71.6 percent of total herbaceous production. Annual forbs <br />contributed 30.10 g/mz (268 lb/ac) to herbaceous production in this azea, comprising 16.3 <br />percent of total herbaceous production. Perennial forbs provided 22.20 g/mz (1981b(ac), <br />which .was 12.0 percent of the total mean herbaceous production. Annual grasses provided <br />0.10 g/mz (1 lb/acj or <1 percent of total herbaceous production. <br />3.1.5.3 Species Composition <br />Cover sampling identified two lifeforms and nine species within the 2002 reclamation azeas. <br />The lifeforms included-six species of perennial grass, two perennial forbs, and one annual <br />forb. Of the species encountered on the 2002 reclamation azeas, all were native. Perennial <br />species outnumbered annual species by eight to one. Soth warm and cool season species <br />contributed to the seasonality of the 2002 reclamation azeas. Warm season graminoids <br />outnumbered cool season graminoids by four to two. Warm season forbs prevailed two to <br />one. <br />The 2002 reclamation azeas had eight species contributing greater than three percent relative <br />cover this year. The species contributing greater than three percent relative cover included six <br />perennial grasses, one perennial forb, and one annual forb. These species included Oryzopsis <br />hymenoides with 43.59% relative cover, Panicum virgatum (15.38%), Helianthus annuus <br />(10.26%), Ambrosia psilostachya (8.97%), Calamovilfa longifolia (7.69%), Agropyron <br />smithii (3.85%), and Bouteloua gracilis (3.85%). <br />3.2 QUALITATIVE EVALUATION: 1985,1986,1987, 1995, AND 1997 <br />RECLAMATION AREAS <br />3.2.1 1985 RECLAMATION AREAS <br />The 1985 reclamation areas encompass approximately 23 acres of reclaimed pit in the north <br />central azea of the Keenesburg Mine permit area The 1985 reclamation area is composed of <br />two parcels (Areas 13 and 22) sepazated by a north-south haul road corridor (Area 19). This <br />area is nearly flat with a gentle slope (<2°) to the north and east. Reclamation and coincident <br />revegetation within this azea took place in 1985. Replaced soils were sandy in texture. The <br />revegetation seed mix differed slightly in composition and representation of cool season <br />grasses from the seed mix applied to the 1986 and 1987 reclaimed azeas, yielding a slightly <br />different species composition. <br />Observations of the pazcels during sampling and at the end of the growing season indicated <br />significant growth this season, particulazly in the cool season graminoid component. Several <br />forb species were observed. Plants appeazed healthy in the 1985 reclamation azeas, with <br />good calm and mot vigor. Total mean vegetation cover was estimated between 55 and 60 <br />percent throughout both Areas 13 and 22. Herbaceous production of this area was estimated <br />Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 17 <br />2005 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />