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• III. RESULTS In 1994 we reported that conditions in the area were much drier than normal. Quite the reverse was true of the spring and early summer of 1995. Prolonged cool and wet weather accelerated growth of the cool season species at the site, while hindering ' growth and anthesis of the predominant warm season graminoids. Inspections of the site in June and July revealed that the majority of the warm season grasses had not reached anthesis. By early August, anthesis was apparent in approximately thirty ' percent of the warm season grasses (Andropogon hallii being a significant exception). As many of the cool season wheatgrasses were drying by this time, sampling proceeded so as not to lose representation of the cool season grass and forb component. Total ' vegetation cover and herbaceous production values were significantly higher in 1995 than previous years in all areas due to the early growing season weather. Four lifeforms were encountered during the sampling of the reclaimed and reference areas. They included graminoids, forts, succulents, and woody shrubs. Thirty-three individual species were identified during sampling at the references area and reclaimed ' areas. Due to the coo] and wet spring, several new species which had not been identified in 1994 sampling were encountered. The plant species encountered and their locations are presented in Table 1. • ' OSGOOD SAND REFERENCE AREA The Osgood Sand Reference Area represents approximately 3.4 acres of undisturbed native vegetation within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The reference area is sited ' immediately west of the mine access road and has been fenced to prevent grazing by domesticated livestock. The reference area is flat and exhibits sheet flow drainage to ' the east-southeast. Soils were generally sandy in texture, with very little incorporated organic matter. The vegetation community was visually dominated by the woody shrub Artemesia 6lifolia (sand sage). Other visually obvious species included the native ' annual daisy (Erigeron bel/idiastrum), the graminoids Stipa viridula (green needlegrass), and Andropngon ha/lii (sand bluestem}. Numerous other minor species were present this season and the number of species represented in cover sampling ' increased from seven (7) in 1994 to eighteen (18) this year (Savage and Savage, 1994). Specific sampling information for the reference area is contained in Tables 2 and 6. Vegetation Cover Total vegetation cover of the reference area was 51.40 percent. Based on cover sampling, graminoids represented 14.80 percent mean cover (27.07% relative cover), • forts accounted for 13.00 percent mean cover (21.94% relative cover), and shrubs ' 23.60 percent mean cover (51.00% relative cover). ' -5-