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• Cover Sampling <br />Cover data were collected using a point intercept method in which data are tabulated as <br />interceptions of a point with plant species, standing dead plant material, bare soil, litter, or rock. <br />Each point was optically projected using a Cover-Point Optical Point Projection Device, <br />developed by ESCO Associates, Inc. Each sample consisted of a randomly located and <br />randomly oriented 50 m transect, along which 50 sample points were systematically arranged. <br />The number of cover transects that were placed in each reclaimed area or reference area was <br />as follows: <br />Area Number of Transects <br />1990 Reclaimed Areas 20 <br />Mountain Brush Reference <br />Sagebrush Reference <br />10 <br />10 <br />First hit interceptions were used to calculate absolute top layer (first hit) foliar cover by dividing <br />the number of interceptions for a particular species or material by the total number of points <br />• taken (50). First hit relative vegetation cover was calculated by dividing first hit absolute cover <br />for each species by the total first hit vegetation cover. All-layer absolute cover was calculated <br />by dividing all hits for a particular species by the total number of points taken (50). In addition, <br />all-layer relative cover was calculated using all hits for a particular species divided by the total <br />hits accumulated during sampling of the transect. <br />Herbaceous Production Sampling <br />Herbaceous production sampling was done in the 1990 Seneca II Mine reclaimed area and the <br />reference areas. Herbaceous production sampling was accomplished using one-half square <br />meter (0.5 mz) circular quadrats within which all herbaceous growth in a vertical projection was <br />removed by clipping, and placed in labeled paper bags. Alfalfa (Medicago saliva), when it <br />occurred, was placed in separate labeled bags. <br /> <br />2 <br />