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I ~ areas. These measures provide a means of examining progress toward the return of diverse <br />species composition in the reclaimed areas. <br />Plant Species Listing <br />Scientific names used follow Weber and Wittman (1996); common names cited are found in <br />Beetle (1970), Nickerson et al. (1976), or Soil Conservation Service (1979). Cross-references <br />between older names and the revised scientific nomenclature for the flora of Western Colorado <br />used here can be made by reference to Appendix 2 of this report. <br />During the course of the fieldwork, a list of all plant species encountered (quantitative plus <br />incidental observations) was compiled for each reclamation area and the three reference areas. <br />These lists are summarized in Appendix 2, Species Presence for All Areas, which includes <br />current nomenclature and cross-references to older nomenclature. Note that all big sagebrush <br />plants encountered were referred to as Seriphidium tridentatum. Plants referred to here as Poa <br />secunda are the plants formerly known as big bluegrass (Poa ampla) that were included in the <br />seed mixes as such. The taxonomic treatment of Weber and Wittmann (1996) places Poa ampla <br />(as well as Poa sandbergir) with Poa secunda. Despite this merger, the distinctness of Poa <br />ampla is worth noting. <br />Photographic Record <br />Within each reclamation and reference area, representative color photographs were taken to <br />document the appearance of the vegetation in 2004 (Appendix 4). Within each reclaimed area <br />photograph, a placard identifies the particular area and sample. <br />Statistical Methods <br />Sampling was conducted at randomly located sites. Random map points for sampling locations <br />were generated using a random point generating script in ESRI ArcView 3.2 software. These <br />sample points were located in the field using topographic maps. Cover and woody plant density <br />transects were randomly oriented; production samples were located randomly behind the transect <br />origin. At each coverlwoody plant density sampling location, the slope, expressed as a percent, <br />and aspect of the site, in degrees not corrected for magnetic declination, were determined and <br />recorded, as was the orientation of the transect. <br /> <br />