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season grasses were present within the reference area, Bouteloua gracilts (blue grams), <br />Cala-novilfa longifolia (prairie sandreed), and Andropogon hallii (sand bluestem). <br />Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), an annual introduced undesirable grass was present in <br />significant numbers withia the reference area this growing season. Seven fort species <br />were encountered during cover sampling this growing season. The number of species <br />represemed in cover sampling increased from twelve in 2002 to fourteen this year <br />(Table 1) (Savage and Savage, 2002). Specific sampling information for the reference <br />area is contained in Tables 2 and 3. <br />3.1.1.1 Vegetation Cover <br />Total vegetation cover of the reference area was 55.80 percent. Crraminoids provided <br />23.00 percent mean cover (37.39% relative cover), forts contributed 8.60 percent mean <br />cover (13.03% relative cover), and one woody shrub was the dominam species in the <br />community with 24.20 percent mean cover and 49.58 percent relative cover. <br />The dominant vascular plant species of the reference area was the native woody shrub <br />Artemisia filifolia. Artemisia filifolia accounted for 24.20 percent of the mean cover and <br />49.58 percent relative cover. Stipa viridula provided the second highest cover with 14.60 <br />percent mean cover and 25.50 percent relative cover. RP+naining significant cover <br />contributors included Helirnrthus amruus (annual sunflower) with 4.60 percent mean cover <br />(7.08% relative cover), Bromus tectorum providing 3.40 percent mean (4.82% relative <br />cover), and Chenopodtum album (lambsquarters) (2.20% mean and 3.12% relative). <br />i Vegetative litter (prior year's growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised an average 36.60 percent ground cover within the reference area. Bare soil <br />comprised 7.60 percem of the ground cover encountered in the reference area. No rock <br />or cryptogams were encountered during this year's weer sampling. <br />3.1.1.2 Herbaceous ProduMion <br />Total herbaceous production at the Osgood sand reference area was 130.21 g/m2 <br />(1161 lblac). Annual forts wmributed the highest herbaceous production in the reference <br />area with 64.20 g/m2 (572 Ib/ac) or 49.3 percerrt of the total reference area herbaceous <br />production. Perennial grasses accounted for the next greatest wmribution to reference <br />area herbaceous production, wmprising 58.96 g/mz (526 lb/ac) and 45.3 percent of total <br />herbaceous production. Perennial forts provided 4.82 g/m2 (43 Ib/ac or 3.7%) of the <br />reference area total herbaceous production this year. Annual grasses wrmibuted an <br />average of 2.24 g/m2 (201b/ac) or 1.7 percent of total herbaceous production. <br />3.1.1.3 Species Composition <br />Within the reference area three lifefonns were represented; grasses, forts, and woody <br />plants. The total number of species enwuntered during rover sampling within the <br />r~ <br />L J <br />Coors EnergyCompargl Page 6 <br />2o0S Rehegetatbn Monkoring Retwrt <br />