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of direct-hauled and toplifted topsoil material, from which woody plants could have directly <br /> germinated. <br /> Area F, located in Wolf Creek reclamation seeded in 1987, apparently did recieve direct-hauled <br /> topsoil that was at least partially replaced as top-lifted material. The applied seed mix also <br /> included supplemental shrub seed, but this area is still among the lowest in shrub density. <br /> Cover and production data for this unit (Tables 6 and 15, respectively) show a continuing heavy <br /> dominance by weedy native and non-native annual species in its second growing season. <br /> Dominance by annual species through two or even three seasons is not unusual; as of 1989, the <br /> second year after seeding, Area F does have a large number of native species in the understory, <br /> showing high frequency values, previewing the shift in dominance that can be expected in years <br /> three or four. <br /> Area B, the first topsoiled reclaimed unit at the Seneca Mine, received direct-hauled topsoil, <br /> much of it toplifted. Portions of this 12-year old reclaimed area are dominated by big sagebrush <br /> and more closely resembles native sagebrush stands than any other portions of the reclamation. <br /> • Information in Table 20 shows that sagebrush reproduction is occurring in this area, as is <br /> limited snowberry reproduction. Tall shrubs are very sparingly present with no evidence of <br /> current reproduction. <br /> Reclaimed area D, the Wadge Pasture, has slightly over 475 stems/acre, yet appears to be <br /> visually and compositionally similar to older Wadge reclaimed areas (ie., Area C) where shrub <br /> densities are low. As noted in the 1988 Seneca Revegetation Monitoring Report, this area was <br /> reclaimed from 1978 through 1985. Improvements in reclamation practices in the latter part <br /> of this period resulted in higher levels of shrub establishment than in Area C. What is of <br /> particular interest is the nearly 50 percent increase in shrub density of Area D from 1988 to <br /> 1989 (322 stems/acre in 1988 to 476 stems/ acre). Area D had experienced grazing during <br /> the two growing seasons prior to 1989, suggesting that grazing has already had an effect on <br /> shrub establishment in the reclaimed communities of Area D. Slightly over 50 percent of the <br /> shrubs encountered in the Area D sampling were classified as seedlings, compared to only 5 to 17 <br /> percent in the other older Wadge reclaimed areas (B and C). <br /> . Review of 1985, 1987,1988. and 1989 sampling data for the Seneca Mine shows the following <br /> G1 <br />