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sample points For the alkali sagebrush reference area, 50 cover line transects and 50 <br />production quadrats were sampled. For the big sagebrush reference area, 25 cover line <br />transects (the first 25 selected during randomization) and 70 production quadrats were sampled <br />(20 additional points were randomized in the field once statistical adequacy calculations <br />indicated more samples would be required after the first 50 samples were completed). For the <br />reclaimed area, a total of 27 cover and 60 production sample locations were randomly located <br />for cover and production data collection and 182 sample points were located for shrub density <br />sampling. Additional points were randomized as needed Photographs were taken of the two <br />reference areas and the reclaimed area to provide a visual aid of site conditions at the time of <br />sampling and to illustrate existing current year's growth for 1996 (Appendix A). <br />Noxious Weeds: <br />' The State of Colorado lists a n umber of plants as designated noxious weeds including the <br />following species: <br />' • Canada thistle Cirsium arvense <br />.Musk thistle Carduus nutans <br />• Scotch thistle Onopordum acanlhium <br />1 <br />• Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare <br />• Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula <br />' <br />• Russian knapweed Centaurea repens <br />• Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diflusa <br />• Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa <br />. Yellow toadflax Linaria vulgaris <br />' • Dalmation toadflax Linaria dalmatica <br />• W hitetop Cardaria drabs <br />' .Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis <br />Of the above noxious weeds, Canada thistle is the only species occurring with any degree of <br />frequency and in noticeable concentrations. Kerr Coal Company has taken measures to control <br />this species on and adjacent to their reclaimed areas. <br />SCHEDULE <br />' The start date for field sampling was based on sampling during or as close as possible to <br />peak herbaceous production. Field sampling ocwrred on July 19 and 20, 1996 for the low <br />sagebrush reference area and on August 5 through 9, 1996 for the big sagebrush reference area <br />4 <br />