1988-09-16_REPORT - C1981028 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dan Mathews - 2 - September 23, 1988 Osgood Sand Fenced Reference Area This area had a relatively high total vegetation cover (48.4%) , though this was lower than the 1986 survey of this reference area indicated (62.6%) . Warm season perennial grasses contributed 38% relative cover, with sandsage, cool season grasses, and annual species accounting for 37.2, 22.3, and 2. 5% respectively. Blue grama (Boutelova gracilis) was the dominant warm species grass while needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) was the dominant cool season species. All species with greater than 5% absolute cover this year had reduced values when compared to the 1986 data. 1988 values for warm season perennial grasses, cool season perennial grasses, and sandsage were 73, 71 , and 82% respectively of their 1986 recorded values. Cheatgrass and ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya ) were found in trace amounts, the former much reduced compared to the Valent Sand Area. Summary An obvious difference in vegetation cover and species composition exists between the Valent and the Osgood reference areas. The Osgood area is superior, and of the two should be used alone for reference standard measurement. John Althouse mentioned to me that the person they employ to collect their vegetation data has suggested transferring the reference area to another location. This new area was shown to me and in general seemed to have a higher cover of perennial grasses and a lower cover of sandsage. According to the Permit Review Document (11 /11 /86) , Coors does not need to seed sandsage; this suggested area may therefore be more representative of what revegetation can be expected to result in. It would seem difficult to estimate success of reclamation from a reference area dominated by a species, sandsage, which is not seeded in the reclaimed areas. cc: Mike Savage MH/es 0407F