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3.0 RESULTS <br />The reclaimed area was initially revegetated in 1986 and its subsequent history has been <br />documented in the approved reclamation plan and annual reports submitted to the DMG over the years, <br />and is not presented again in this document. To facilitate an evaluation of revegetation success, <br />comparison has been made with both the old permit standards as well as the parameters from the newly <br />established and proposed reference areas and / or standards as appropriate. The comparisons that <br />readily demonstrate the need for aRemate success criteria are presented under Section 3.4 below. <br />Vegetation data collected utilizing accepted scientific means and statistical analyses from both the <br />reclaimed area (Plates 1 - 6) as well as that collected from the reference areas (Plates 7 - 12) during <br />2004 have been organized, summarized, and presented on a variety of tables and charts in Appends A. <br />Plates 1- 12 are presented in Appendix A as well. <br />3.1 General <br />Overall, a total of 73 plant species were observed within the four areas evaluated in 2004. These <br />consisted of 19 grass taxa, 34 forts, and 20 shrubs (see Table 1). Table 1 indicates all taxa observed <br />during fieldwork and is the only table that indicates 1) common names, 2) historic scientific <br />nomenclature, and 3) most current taxonomic nomenclature. (Remaining tables do not indicate this <br />latter category.) On average, 49 unique plant species are observable in any given revegetation unit and <br />27 in the references areas. Among these taxa was an occasional noxious or invasive weed such as <br />bindweed (ConvoNu/us arvensis) or cheatgrass (eromus tectorum), with the latter occasionally existing as <br />more notable patches. <br />Overall, the revegetation efforts at Blue Ribbon Mine are faring well considering the intensive <br />grazing pressure the area receives during the late spring when sheep are trailed through the area. The <br />riparian area has quickly returned to a functioning ecosystem that is difficult to discern from the <br />upstream and downstream, undisturbed areas. The revegetated grassland community has received the <br />most intensive grazing pressure, and yet, has progressed beyond the early sera) stages of reclamation <br />into a reasonably well established, stable grassland. This new grassland community is "an oasis" for <br />domestic and wild fauna as it provides nearly twice the herbaceous production and over five times the <br />perennial herbaceous cover as a nearby undisturbed grassland (reference area). <br />~~~ ~~~ mss®onmv~~ rnc. Page 11 Blue Ribbon Mine - Revegetatlon EvaluaUOn <br />