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Cover Sam lino . <br />i Cover data were collected using a point intercept method in which data are tabulated as <br />interceptions of a point with plant species, standing dead plant material, bare soil, litter, or <br />rock. Each point was optically projected using aCover-Point Optical Point Projection Device, <br />developed by ESCO Associates, Inc. Each sample consisted of a randomly located and randomly <br />i oriented 50 m transect, along which 50 sample points were systematically arranged. The <br />number of cover transects that were placed in each reclaimed area or reference area was as <br />follows: <br />Number <br />I 1983 Reclaimed Areas 2 0 <br />i 1987 Reclaimed Areas 2 0 <br />1990 Reclaimed Areas 2 0 <br />~ 1992 Reclaimed Areas 1 5 <br />it Wadge Pasture 2 0 <br />Mountain Brush Reference 1 0 <br />Sagebrush Reference 1 0 <br />• <br />~ First hit interceptions were used to calculate absolute top layer (first hit) foliar cover by <br />dividing the number of interceptions for a particular species or material by the total number of <br />~ points taken (50). First hit relative vegetation cover was calculated by dividing first hit <br />absolute cover for each species by the total first hit vegetation cover. All-layer absolute cover <br />was calculated by dividing all hits for a particular species by the total number of points taken <br />(50). In addition, all-layer relative cover was calculated using all hits for a particular species <br />divided by the total hits accumulated during sampling of the transect. <br />Production Sampling <br />~~ Production sampling was done in all reclamation areas (except 1992 reclaimed areas), and the <br />~ two reference areas. Herbaceous production sampling was accomplished using one-half :square <br />meter (0.5 m2) circular quadrats within which all herbaceous growth in a vertical projection <br />it was removed by clipping, and placed in labeled paper bags. Alfalfa (Mecjicaao s iv ), when it <br />occurred, was placed in separate labeled bags. Production sampling intensity in the Wadge <br />11 <br />Pasture was greater than cover sampling, so that in addition to the twenty production samples <br />2 • <br />