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• page 3 . <br />The total density of 110.25 plants/m' seems high, but when it is <br />considered that many samll "seedlings" were included it is not extraordinarily <br />high. It is expected this value will decline to between 80 and 90 plants/m' <br />in the next couple of years. This will be due primarily to competition effects. <br />Also as the trees and shrubs become larger shade effects will further reduce <br />this to perhaps 60 to 70 plants/m'. <br />Cover, on the other hand, will probably increase as plants become <br />larger. A final value, excluding the tree and shrub canopy, will probably <br />be between 607 and 709. <br />Cover on the slopes varies from nearly the same as on benches to about <br />a of the bench values. This is directly related to two factors - 1) the <br />depth of soil on the slope, and 2) the steepness of the slope. <br />It is interesting, but not very significant, that at this mean density <br />(110 plants/m') there are about 1.5 million plants on this 2.5 acre site. <br />It is more significant that the mean density represents growth from about <br />157 of the seeds planted. If the "final" vegetation has about 70 plants/m' <br />then that growth would have been derived from roughly 107 of the original <br />seeds spread on the site. <br />PRESENCE LIST: Table 4 lists the species found on the entire berm area. <br />Each species is given an abundance rating on a scale of 1 to 10, whether <br />it was planted or invaded, and its most usual habitat (slope, bench, or <br />both). The list does not include the planted trees and shrubs. <br />INVASION PATTERNS: Table 4 shows the species found which have invaded and/or <br />come from the soil which was placed on the berm. Invasion of native species <br />is always a significant part of any revegetation project. Unfortunately, <br />some of the species that most often invade topsoiled areas are serious weed <br />pests that have been lying dormant for years. On this site, however, such <br />has not occurred nor does it appear that it will occur in dimensions that <br />would warrant corrective actions. Both Russian and Canada Thistle are present <br />but are of very small numerical significance. The current vegetation is <br />of such density that it is unlikely these species will expand to any large <br />degree. <br />