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~l• III. RESULTS • i -------- --------------- ------ i Due to the abnormally dry spring and summer conditions in the area, many plant ' species exhibited vegetative growth b~< ilut anthesis. Several cooi season grass species exhibiteo anthesis (.4dropyron cristatum, .4gropyron dasystachyum, and Bromus marginatus), but with much reduced foliage production and reduced seed head size. During sampling, many warm season grasses had exhibited foliar growth (Andropogon hallii, Bouteloua gracilis, and Sporobolus cryptandrus), but only one showed anthesis consistently (Calamovil(a /ongitolia). It appeared that several species would not produce Flowers this growing season. -. - Four lifeforms were encountered during the sampling of the reclaimed and reference ' areas. They included graminoids, forbs, succulents, and woody shrubs. Twenty individual species were identified during sampling. The plant species encountered and their locations are presented in Table 1. OSGOOD SAND REFERENCE AREA • The Osgood Sand Reference Area represents approximately 3.4 acres of undisturbed native vegetatio : withir, the Keenasburg blire pcrr:it area. The reference area sits immediately west of the mine access road. The reference area is Flat and exhibits sheet flow drainage to the east-southeast. Soils were generally sandy in texture, with very little incorporated organic matter. The vegetation community was visually dominated by the woody shrub sand sage (Artemesia fililolia). Other visually obvious species included the graminoids sand bluestem (Andropogon hallir), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), and needle and thread (Stipa comata). Specific sampling information for the reference area is contained in Table 2 and Table 6. Vegetation Cover I• J Total vegetation cover of the reference area was 25.00% Based on cover sampling, graminoids represented 7.60% mean cover (28.25% relative cover), forbs accounted for 0:20% mean cover (0.74% relative cover), and shrubs 17.20% mean cover (71.OOq relative cover). The dominant vascular plant species of the reference area (based on cover) was Artemesia filifolia (sand sage). Artemesia filifolia accounted for 17.20% of the mean cover and 71.00% relative cover. Sub-dominant species representing more than 3% relative cover were: Stipa comata (needle and thread) at 4.00% mean cover (14.87% relative cover), and Andropogon ha//ii (sand bluestem) at 1.80% mean cover (6.69% relative cover). -5-