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1 <br /> <br />' INTRODUCTION <br />' Thie report presents vegetation cover and species diversity data <br />for the reclaimed areas at the Walden Coal Company Mine Bite located <br />' northeast of Walden, Colorado. The reclaimed areas at the site consist <br />' of two parcels: one that was reclaimed in 1984 and a second that was <br />reclaimed in 1988. Sampling results are presented for each of these two <br />' areas and also for the two areas combined. These areas were also <br />sampled in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. Tabular <br />t summaries of mean cover data for the eight sampling years are also <br />' presented as a means of evaluating vegetation changes that have occurred <br />over the past eight growing seasons. Field sampling for this project <br />' was conducted on Auquet 13, 1996. <br />' METHODS <br />' Vegetation cover data were obtained using a point transect method. <br />With this approach, observations on plant cover were made at one-meter <br />t intervals along a 25-meter transect. At each observation point, cover <br />' was evaluated using an optical sighting device. The device consists of <br />an objective lens equipped with Bighting cross-hairs, a focusing tube, <br />' and a reflecting mirror. The device was mounted on a tripod and was <br />oriented parallel to the ground at each observation point. The sighting <br />' device was attached to a bar that is 0.5 meters in length. Observations <br />' were made by recording what was observed at the point of intersection <br />made by the cross-hairs. Two observations were made at each meter along <br />' the transect (one on either aide of the transect tape), for a total of <br /> <br />