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comparison to the reference area (18.5% cover), this unit fails when both perennial and annual cover is <br />combined. The South Fan area currently passes all four diversity standards. There is sufficient cover of <br />perennial cool-season grasses, perennial warm-season grasses, perennial ford's and / or sumshrubs, and <br />there are no planted species with greater than 70% relative cover. <br />Woody plant density was not surveyed in this unit in 2004, although direct observation and analysis <br />of cover data indicates that this unit will readily exceed the standard of 800 shrubs per acre. Production <br />was also not measured in this unit in 2004, however, ft is estimated that perennial production in this unit <br />is compa2ble to the Shadsole reference area. To the contrary annual production is estimated to be <br />considerably lower due to minimal levels of cheatgrass in the reclamation. Similar to the South Fan area, <br />heavy grazing by domestic livestock and / or wikil'Ife in this unft is suppressing perennial grass cover and <br />production values, and may lead to their eventual disappearance from the redaimed area. <br />At least one of the four small sites at the 2 West Portals Area is still struggling with regard to plant <br />emergence. Although this situation is not unique when compared to surround undisturbed areas, it <br />would be helpful to provide supplemental seed for this area (see Section 4.0). <br />SNOWCAP COAL COMPANY Page 15 RevegetatlOn EveluetlOn 2004 <br />