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Species Composition • Cover sampling identified three lifeforms and twenty-three species within the 1998 reseeded or interseeded areas. The lifeforms included ten species of perennial grass, two annual grasses, three perennial, one biennial, and six annual forts, and one shrub. Of the species encountered on the 1998 reseeded or interseeded areas, sixteen were native and seven were introduced. Perennial and biennial species outnumbered annual species by fifteen to eight. Both warm and cool season species contributed to the seasonality of the 1998 reseeded or interseeded azeas. Warm season gaminoids were dominant with eight of the twelve species, while cool season forts prevailed with eight of the ten forb species. The shrub species was deciduous. The 1998 reseeded or interseeded areas had six species contributing greater than three percent relative cover this year. The species contributing greater than three percent relative cover included two perennial grasses, one annual grass, two annual forts, and one perennial forb. These species included Bromus tectorum (48.87%), Calamovi fa longtfolia (10.68%), Euphorbia glyptosperma (10.36%), Ambrosia psilosfachya (S.SO%}, Agropyron smithii (3.24%), and Helianihus annuus (3.24%). QUALTTATIVE EVALUATION: 1985, 1986, AND 1987 RECLAMATION AREAS 1985 RECLAMATION AREA • The 1985 reclamation area encompasses approximately 23 acres of reclaimed pit in the north central azea of the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The 1985 reclamation area is composed of two parcels (west and east) separated by a north-south haul road wmdor. This area is nearly Oat with a gentle slope (<2°) to the north and east. Reclamation and coincident revegetation within this azea took place in 1985. Replaced soils were sandy in texture. The revegetation seed mix differed slightly in composition and representation of cool season grasses from the seed mix applied to the 1986 and 1987 reclaimed areas, yielding a slightly different species composition. Vegetation growth in both 1985 reclamation area pazcels was good this year. The visually dominant species this year was Bromus marginatus. Within the west pazcel Andropogon hallii, Panicum virgatum, and Psoralidium tenmr j2orum were also observed. Little Calamovilfa longifolia was observed in the west parcel. The east parcel contained more Calamovilfa longifolia and Andropogon hallii with additional contributions by Ambrosia psilostachya, Physalts pumila (ground cherry), and Opuntia polyacaniha (prickly pear). Total mean vegetation cover was estimated between 4S and 48 percent in the east pazcel and SO percent in the west parcel. Both Bromus marginatus and Calamovilfa longifolia remained green with mature florets. Herbaceous production of this area was estimated at 228 g/mz (2000 lb/ac). Graminoid and forb species numbers appeazed equivalent to past years. There was no evidence of invasion by unwanted species or evidence of pest or disease problems. • -12-