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• was 3.9 to 5.9 species per 100 m2. In the reclaimed areas, shrub species density varied <br />rather narrowly between 0.3 and 1.2 species per 100 m2. <br />In all reclaimed areas, introduced species provided the bulk of vegetation cover (Table 30). In <br />eight of the ten reclaimed areas evaluated in 1990, a single lifeform of introduced plant <br />species (variably introduced perennial forbs, introduced perennial grasses, or introduced <br />annual forbs) provided 45 percent or more of the vegetation cover. In 1991, such dominance <br />., <br />was observed only in the older Wedge reclamation (1984 Wedge and Wedge Pasture). The <br />dominant liteform in both the latter cases was introduced perennial forbs (mainly alfalfa). <br />The range of the contribution of native perennial species' contribution to vegetation cover in <br />reclaimed areas (Table 30) varied from 13.4 to 33.7 percent in 1991, up from 5.1 to 27.7 <br />percent in 1990. The lowest 1991 levels were in the 1989 Wolf Creek and Wedge Pasture <br />(13.4 to 16.6 percent o1 vegetation cover), well up lrom the lowest 1990 levels in the 1988 <br />Wedge, 1986 Wedge Spring, and Wedge Pasture (5.1 to 8.0 percent of vegetation cover). The <br />highest levels in 1991 were in the 1984 Wolf Creek and 1987 Wedge (32.1 and 33.7 percent of <br />vegetation cover), also up from 1990 highs in the 1986 Wedge Fall and 1986 Wedge areas <br />• (25.0 and 27.7 percent of vegetation cover, respectively). <br />Cover <br />As can be seen in Figure 1, 1991 cover was highest in the reference areas and the Wedge <br />Pasture and 1984 Wolf Creek areas). Although direct comparison between years is, in <br />general, not possible, it seems that cover values overall in 1991 have continued the rebound <br />begun in 1990 after the trend of declining cover observed during the years 1987 through <br />1989. While the drought that has characterized the latter time period may not have <br />completely abated (see Climatic Conditions, below), vegetation cover appears to have <br />continued to increase in 1991. The 1984 Wolf Creek and Wedge Pasture areas both exceeded <br />90 percent otihe Sagebrush Reference Area cover; the Wedge Pasture area also exceeded 90 <br />percent of the Mountain Brush Reference Area cover. If herbaceous cover only is considered <br />(Mountain Brush Reference Area -32.9 percent and Sagebrush Reference Area = 57.7 <br />percent), all reclaimed areas exceeded the reference area standards in 1991. <br />J <br />11 <br />