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decreased from fourteen in 2003 to eleven this yeaz (Table 1) (Savage and Savage, 2003). <br />• Specific sampling information for the reference azea is contained in Tables 2 and 3. <br />3.1.1.1 Yegetation Cover <br />Total vegetation cover of the reference azea was 34.93 percent. Graminoids provided 15.20 <br />percent mean cover (39.63% relative cover), forbs contributed 2.53 percent mean cover <br />(5.88% relative cover), and the woody shrub sand sage (Artemisia filifolia) was the dominant <br />species in the community with 16.93 percent mean cover and 53.87 percent relative cover. <br />The dominant vascular plant species of the reference azea was the native woody shrub <br />Artemisia filifolia. Artemisia filifolia accounted for 16.93 percent of the mean cover and <br />53.87 percent relative cover. Stipa viridula provided the second highest cover with 9.73 <br />percent mean cover and 26.93 percent relative cover. There was only one additional <br />significant cover contributor this year; cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), providing 3.33 percent <br />mean (7.74% relative cover). Vegetative litter (prior year's growth, dead wood, and other <br />biologic organic material) comprised an average 58.53 percent ground cover within the <br />reference azea. Bare soil comprised 6.53 percent of the ground cover encountered in the <br />reference area. No rock or cryptogams were encountered during this yeaz's cover sampling. <br />3.1.1.2 Herbaceous Production <br />Total herbaceous production at the Osgood sand reference area was 56.96 g/m2 <br />• (508 16/ac). Perennial graminoids contributed the greatest level of herbaceous production in <br />the reference azea with 40.79 g/mz (363 lb/ac) or 71.6 percent of the total reference area <br />herbaceous production. Annual forbs accounted for the next greatest contribution to <br />reference azea herbaceous production, comprising 10.53 g/m2 (94 Ib/ac) and 18.5 percent of <br />total herbaceous production. Annual grass provided 3.84 g/m2 (34 lb/ac or 6.7%) of the <br />reference area total herbaceous production this year. Perennial forbs contributed an average of <br />1.80 g/m2 (16 Ib/ac) or 3.2 percent of total herbaceous production. <br />3.1.1.3 Species Composition <br />Within the reference azea four lifeforms were represented; grasses, forbs, succulents, and <br />woody plants. The total number of species encountered during cover sampling within the <br />reference azea in 2004 was eleven. Graminoids accounted for six species, forbs three <br />species, one succulent, and one shrub species were present. Of the species encountered in the <br />reference azea, eight were native and three were introduced. <br />Perennial species outnumbered annual species by seven to four. Seasonality of the species <br />was dominated by cool season species that accounted for seven species with warm season <br />species contributing two species, and the succulent and shrub showing no seasonal preference. <br />Of the species encountered, three represented greater than three percent relative cover; <br />Artemisia filifolia (53.87%), Stipa viridula (26.93%), and Bromus tectorum (7.74%). <br />• <br />Coors Energy Company Page 6 <br />2004 Revegetatbn Monitoring Report <br />