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1997 RECLAMATION AREAS <br />• The 1997 reclamation areas sampled encompass approximately 18 acres of reclamation in <br />four distinct azeas within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The areas are found <br />throughout the disturbance area of the mine and include two areas adjacent to B pit, an <br />area to the west of A pit, and a road corridor between the 1985/1986 central azeas and the <br />1986 east area. Vegetation cover transects and herbaceous production quadrats were <br />distributed within the four areas based on size. The 1997 reclamation areas are nearly flat <br />overall with a gentle slope (1-3°) to the north. Reclamation and coincident revegetation <br />with the permanent seed mix took place during the autumn of 1997 within these areas. <br />Replaced soils were sandy in texture. Specific sampling information for the 1997 <br />reclamation azeas is contained in Tables 4 and 8. <br />Vegetation Cover <br />Total vegetation cover of the 1997 reclamation areas was the lowest of all azeas sampled <br />in 1999 with 33.40 percent. Graminoids provided 7.20 percent mean cover (22.39% <br />relative cover) and forbs accounted for 26.20 percent mean cover (77.61 % relative cover). <br />No succulents or woody shrubs were encountered during cover sampling in the 1997 <br />reclamation azeas. Total cover values and the composition of the species contributing to <br />cover was variable within the 1997 reclamation areas. The lowest total vegetation cover <br />was found in the area south of B pit (28.5%) and the highest mean cover was encountered <br />• along the road corridor (40%). Annual forbs provided significant cover in all areas <br />revegetated in 1997, though the road corridor had significant cover of Calamovilja <br />longijolia. <br />Within the 1997 reclamation areas, Helianthus annuus provided the highest overall cover <br />with 9.40 percent mean cover and 29.85 percent relative cover. Helian[hus annuus was <br />found in all 1997 reclamation areas sampled. Ambrosia psilos[achya (ragweed) accounted <br />for the second highest species cover with 5.80 percent mean cover and 17.41 percent <br />relative cover. The warm season perennial grass Calamovilja longijolia contributed 4.00 <br />percent mean cover and 12.94 percent relative cover. Six additional species contributed <br />significantly to cover; Kochia scoparia with 3.60 percent mean cover (8.96% relative <br />cover), Bromus [ec[orum provided 2.40 percent mean total cover (7.46% relative cover), <br />Conyza canadensis (horseweed) contributed 2.20 percent mean cover and 5.97 percent <br />relative cover, Me/ilotus ojfrcina/is (yellow sweetclover) provided 1.60 percent mean <br />cover (4.98% relative), Chenopodium album (lambsquariers) accounted for 1.40 percent <br />mean and 3.98 percent relative, and Melilotus albo (white sweetclover) contributed 1.20 <br />percent mean and 3.48 percent relative cover. <br />Vegetative litter (prior years growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised 24.60 percent ground cover overall within the 1997 reclamation areas. Bare <br />soil comprised 42.00 percent of the ground cover. No rock or cryptogams were <br />• encountered during the cover sampling in the 1997 reclamation areas. <br />-9- <br />