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<br />normal, however a significant decrease in alfalfa (Me sa) resulted in an overall decrease <br />from 1997. A wet, cool spring may have reduced the growing season for alfalfa. <br />Cheatgrass production in 1998 increased significantly from 1997. <br />In addition to vegetative production sampling, species percent cover data was also <br />obtained. Results indicate 1998 perennial grass cover increased (2%), perennial fortis <br />decreased (4%), weed cover was stable, and annual grass (Bromus tectorum) increased <br />3% (see Table 5~). The percent cover changes were similar to results for production. <br />Annual grass increased possibly as a result of increases in bare ground and less perennial <br />forb cover. The dominant perennial species based on percent cover were Russian wildrye, <br />alfalfa, wheatgrasses, (riparian, slender and thickspike), green needlegrass, Basin wildrye, <br />and western wheatgrass. <br />In conclusion, eight 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 />1 <br />31 <br />