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• s.o ~su1.Ts <br />2.1 Overall Summary <br />Overall, a total of 96 plant species were observed within the 20 areas (18 revegetated units and 2 <br />reference areas) evaluated in 2004. These consisted of 29 grass taxa, 51 fortis, and 16 shrubs (see <br />Table 22 in Appendbc AB). Table 22 indiotes all taxa observed during fieldwork and is the only table that <br />indicates i) common names, 2) historic scientific nomenclature, and 3) most current taxonomic <br />nomenclature. Remaining tables do not indicate this latter category. On average, 29 unique plant <br />species are observable in any given revegetation unit and 24 in the references areas. Among these taxa <br />are an occasional noxious or invasive weed such as musk thistle or Japanese brome, with the latter <br />occasionaly existing ~ more notable patches. <br />An analysis of the ground cover variable (Charts 3 and 4) indicated that all areas of older <br />reclamation (7 years of age) substantially exceed the success criterion based on 2004 reference area <br />data. Similarly, Table 1 and Chart 5 indicate even greater success with rngard to production on the <br />revegetated units that are 7 years of age. With regard to ground cover on areas exhibiting four years of <br />• growth, 50% have exceeded the reference area based success criterion. None of the two-year old <br />revegetated units currently pass comparison with the ground cover success criterion. Production data are <br />not wllected from younger areas, but eventual success is readiy expected. <br />With regard to diversity, Colowyo's revegetation efforts appear to be very strong as indicated on <br />Table 3 and Charts 8 and 9. As observable on these exhibits, diversity tends to increase with the age of <br />reclamation and in most cases should be sufficient for bond release testing by the time they are of <br />sufficient age for such testing (years 9 and 10 of the bond responsibility perad). As indicated on Chart 9, <br />5 of 6 (83%) of the areas revegetated in 1997 would pass such testing; 50% of 2000 revegetation efforts <br />would currently pass diversity testing, and 0°k of 2002 revegetation efforts would pass. This analysis <br />suggests that Cokmryo is in a strong position with regard to the diversity variable. The 7-year old unit <br />that fails (S16012) is a very small unit and the failure in the grass category is because one species <br />exceeded the maximum limits, while three others fell just short of the minimum limit. Different sampling <br />efforts and especially different sampling years would probably show success even in this small unit. In <br />other words, the failure is most likely due to sampling error than the expressed vegetation. <br />Contrery to the aforementioned three variables, woody plant density at Colowyo remains somewhat <br />• problematic, at least in some older areas. Perusal of Charts 6 and 7 in comparison to the current success <br />Kennecon E~91• Ca r C°rowyo eons Page 5 Revegeta0on Monitoring -2004 <br />