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Over the period of 1987 to 1991, the levels of production observed have varied as follows: <br />P <br />i <br />d <br />Ib <br /> ry <br />s per acre) <br />roduct <br />on (oven- <br /> AREA 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 <br /> <br /> ALL 1988.2 2257.2 1343.2 2303.2 2204.2 <br /> Wadge Pasture ----- 3049.5 2200.5 2740.7 2874.0 <br /> Sagebrush Ref. 1372.2 1211.6 508.8 1251.6 1231.6 <br /> Mountain Brush Ref. 651.3 1125.9 416.0 615.2 724.3 <br /> From the above data, it is apparent that after a low point in 1989, a recovery in production <br /> occurred in 1990 and continued or stabilized in 1991. Although 1990 was a drought year, the <br /> precipitation during the late spring and early summer was much improved over 1989 and may <br /> account for the recovery in production, as well as cover, in the 1990 reclaimed areas overall <br /> average. In 1991, the year's precipitation was much more favorable than the previous three <br /> years, however, the production levels observed were only slightly, ii at all, higher. This <br /> suggests that, although there was an immediate response in 1990 to a slight amelioration of <br /> drought, there is some other variable(s) acting in a limiting capacity, perhaps a root system <br /> reduced during the period of drought, or a reduction on soil microbiota population size or <br /> composition caused by the years of drought. <br />The abundant herbaceous production of the reclaimed areas provides a significant grazing <br />resource. Since, for the most part, woody species, especially old growth, offers little that <br />grazing animals find palatable, the reclaimed areas as they presently exist are probably more <br />closely compatible with the objectives of livestock growers, and may also be very compatible, <br />with the needs of wild ungulate grazers such as elk. The latter apparently find the production <br />of the reclaimed areas much to their liking as evidenced by accounts of mine personnel citing <br />the abundance of elk, especially during the winter, and the abundance, during summer <br />sampling, of their scat throughout many parts of the reclamation. Deer ere commonly present <br />in the reclamation as well. <br />The usefulness of reclaimed area production can be assessed by determining the proper <br />livestock stocking rates based on measured biomass production. The estimated stocking rates <br />for the reclaimed and reference areas in 1991 are as follows: <br />I~~I <br />14 <br />