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5.3.4 Monitoring <br /> <br />Per NSI's monitoring plan, reclaimed areas were sampled for herbaceous evaluation after the <br />third year of reclamation. Topsoil embankments were sampled in July 2003, just past the peak <br />growth stage. Average precipitation was slightly higher in 2003 than in 2001 or 2002 but was <br />lower than average for the third consecutive year. As a result of lower than normal precipitation <br />during the growing season the vegetation production was less than average. Due to normal <br />and above normal precipitation in the months of September and October 2002 and months of <br />March and April 2003 production for the year was higher than in 2002. Moderate grazing was <br />noted in 2003 on the sample plots, however due to limited production, grazing was sign cant. <br />The visual evaluation indicated seeded perennial species were in fair condition with minimal <br />plant vigor. Vegetative production from perennial grass and forts for 2003 was 396 Ib./acre (dry <br />weight is the standard reporting unit) versus 249 Ib./acre in 2002, 504 lbs./ acre in 2001, 473 <br />lbs./ acre in 2000, 782 Ib./acre in 1999, and 1764 Ib./acre in 1998, (see Table 5-3). Production <br />of perennial grasses was approximately 36% more in 2003 than in 2002 and fort production <br />was also slightly higher than in 2002. Alfalfa lMe sa) production continued to decrease from <br />1997 to 2003. <br />In addition to vegetative production sampling, species percent cover data was also obtained. <br />Results of the topsoil percent cover plots indicate 2003 perennial grass cover increased (2%), <br />shrubs increased (2%), perennial forts stayed the same (0%). Annual grass Bromus tectorum) <br />increased (3%) see Table 51t. <br />i • za <br />