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• Perennial grass seem to maintain (41%) vegetative cover better than fortis or weeds <br />during a dry year. The dominant perennial species based on percent cover were <br />Russian wildrye, green needlegrass, alfalfa, wheatgrasses (riparian, slender, western, <br />and thickspike), and Basin wildrye. Following a record low production for the year <br />2000, it will be interesting to observe production/cover in future years for long term <br />effects. <br />In conclusion, ten years of reclamation data indicate successful germination and <br />establishment of seeded species. The wheatgrass species, wildrye species, green needle <br />grass, and dry land alfalfa appear well adapted to this site. However, Indian ricegrass and <br />• orchard grass have shown poor germination and establishment results. Although a minor <br />contributor to production and percent cover, Lewis flax is valuable as a very visible species <br />when blooming. <br />As noted in previous reports, results of reclamation evaluations indicate a need to <br />increase quantities of shrubs to meet final reclamation and species diversity goals. <br />Shrub and tree species may need to be transplanted in order to compete with vigorous <br />grass and forb species. Twenty pinyon pine seedlings were planted in the spring of <br />1997, with 12 of 20 surviving in 2000. The importance of timely reclamation cannot be <br />over stressed to reduce weedy species. For example, laydown areas utilized through <br />the construction phase had extensive weed cover prior to seeding in the fall of 1991 <br />. and 1992. Success of seeding into established stands of weeds is difficult and should <br />28 <br />