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1• The 1995 monitoring indicates that the 1985 Reclamation Area borders on meeting the species composition success standard. The 1986 and 1987 Reclamation Areas are also ' close to meeting the standard. In 1994 it was noted that the Osgood Sand Reference Area would not meet the revegetation success requirements for species composition. Savage and Savage (1994) questioned whether the acid conditions in 1994 might have affected the species composition of the reference area. The 1995 species composition data suggest this was a correct speculation, although the reference area would still not meet the success criterion, since the increase in species within the reference area in 1995 was largely due ' to annual forbs. These species would not count in evaluating species composition under the standard now in place. ~~ r ~ Based on the 1995 sampling, we would question the fairness of the existing species ~f G ~° Jr ~~ ' composition success standard, and recommend a rev uahon of the standard based on 7"~~ the 1994 and 1995 sampling-data which repiesent a full range of moisture and growth conditions in this azea. It is further recommended that the regulatory agency rethink the exclusion of annual species (particularly forbs) in the analysis of species composition success. As demonstrated in the 1994 and 1995 monitoring for this site, annual species have an important role in the composition of the native and reclaimed vegetation communities. These lifeforms and species may be ephemeral from year to ' year and opportunistic in their growth mode, but they serve to provide diversity within • both the native and revegetated communities, and their role should not be arbitrarily denigrated based on seasonality. r COMPARISON OF 1994 AND 1995 SAMPLIlVG It is hypothesized that the wet spring and early summer weather had a significant effect on all plant parameters at all azeas sampled in two ways. First, many ephemeral forbs sprouted and grew to maturity in the cool and moist conditions which were optimal for ' them. Second, cool season grasses also benefited from the early season moisture and coo] temperatures. These species were able to continue growth for periods longer than normal in this area. The cool season species, be they grasses or forbs, also benefited ' from reduced competition from the warm season species which did not break dormancy until late June. L Increases in cover and production from 1994 to 1995 have been previously discussed. Table 10 provides a representation of vegetation community makeup in terms of ' relative cover and number of species for these two yeazs. In all areas sampled, species numbers increased greatly from 1994 to 1995. The majority of new species encountered in 1995 sampling were annual cool season forbs. As noted previously, ' these aze ephemeral and opportunistic species and their appearance and growth is closely tied to moisture and temperature regimes. The 1995 spring and early summer • weather provided a perfect mixture of temperature and moisture for their life cycle. -15-