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locations rather than representing a real decrease in cover by this <br />species. Russian wildrye has increased from 0.2 percent mean cover in <br />1989 to 7.2 percent mean cover in 1992 and 7.0 percent in 1993. <br />Thickegike wheatgrass doubled in mean cover between 1989 and 1990, but <br />it has remained consistent among 1990, 1992 and 1993. <br />COMMENTS <br />After five years of sampling, it appears that the revegetation of <br />the mined lands at the site is quite successful. Increases in cover by <br />big sagebrush suggest that over time the reclaimed areas, especially the <br />area reclaimed in 1984 will begin to resemble the surrounding native big <br />sagebrush ehrublands. <br />Data from 1991, 1992 and 1993 suggest that the reclaimed areas <br />have developed the ability to withstand grazing pressure. The trespaea <br />grazing that occurred in 1991 caused the mean cover values to be <br />approximately one-third less in 1991. In 1992 and 1993, the mean cover <br />values rebounded to levels that were comparable to those measured in <br />1990. It ie possible that other factors may have contributed to the <br />lower values in 1991, however moat of the differences were likely <br />related to livestock grazing. <br />-5- <br />