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All sampling exceeded the minimum requirements for sample adequacy as indicated in the <br />summary table below: <br />SUMMARY <br />Vegetation sampling was completed on the Reclaimed Area and two reference areas at the <br />Kerr Coal Company Marc Mine by Rocky Mountain Reclamation during mid to late July and early <br />August, 1996. Approximately 109.1 acres of reclaimed land, the low sagebrush vegetation type <br />reference area, and the big sagebrush reference area were sampled. The 1996 study was <br />completed to gather data for trend analyses and to evaluate revegetation success for bond <br />release. <br />The work consisted of providing vegetation sampling to obtain percent cover, herbaceous <br />production, shrub density, noxious weeds, and a list of existing plant species observed on or <br />adjacent to the study area. A total of 50 transects were sampled for cover on the alkali <br />sagebrush reference area, 25 transects of the big sagebrush vegetation reference area, and 27 <br />transects on the reclaimed area. A total of 50 quadrats were sampled for production on the alkali <br />sagebrush reference area, 70 on the big sagebrush reference area, and 60 on the reclaimed <br />area. A total of 182 belt transects were completed for shrub density on the reclaimed area. <br />Rocky Mountain Reclamation completed the field sampling for the low sagebrush reference <br />area on July 19 and 20, 1996 and completed field sampling for cover and production on the big <br />sagebrush reference area and reclaimed area between August 5 and 9. Additional shrub density <br />transects were completed on the reclaimed area between August 12 and 14, 1996. <br />1 <br />Cover: <br />Cover averaged 50 percent for total vegetation cover on the alkali sagebrush reference area, <br />46 percent for the big sagebrush reference area, and nearly 38 percent for the reclaimed area. <br />Dominant plant lifeforrns on the alkali sagebrush vegetation type reference area were the shrubs <br />and perennial grasses, together comprising 85 percent of the total vegetation cover. Shrubs <br />made up 26.44 percent of the total ground cover and grasses comprised nearly 16 percent. <br />' 8 <br />