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For the purposes of direct comparison, quantitative cover data is present ("fable 13) for the <br />• 1995 and 1997 reclamation azeas (1998-2004), the 1998 reseeded or interseeded azeas (1999- <br />2004), the 1999 reclamation azeas (2003-2004), and the Osgood sand reference area (1994- <br />2004). <br />Mean total vegetation cover in the reclamation areas revealed a total range of 14 percent this <br />growing season. Total vegetation cover within the reclamation azeas ranged from 32.80 <br />percent (1999 reclamation azeas) to 46.40 percent (1998 reseeded or interseeded azeas). The <br />Osgood sand reference area claimed total vegetation cover levels less than the reclamation <br />areas with 34.93 percent total vegetation cover. <br />4.3 HERBACEOUS PRODUCTION <br />Total herbaceous production range was variable as well this season. Mean herbaceous <br />production ranged from 56.96 g/m2 (Osgood sand reference azea) to 172.52 g/m2 (1998 <br />reseeded or interseeded areas), With the exception of the 1998 reseeded or interseeded azeas, <br />all areas showed minor to significant decreases in herbaceous production from 2003 <br />production values, ranging from 20 percent (1995 reclamation azeas) to 56 percent in the <br />Osgood sand reference area. The 1998 reseeded or interseeded azeas showed a 16 percent <br />increase in total herbaceous production that is in part attributable to increases in both annual <br />and perennial forb production from 2003, despite ]ower amounts of precipitation. <br />4.4 SPECIES COMPOSITION <br />The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology considers species composition of the <br />revegetated and reclaimed azeas to be an indicator of successful vegetation establishment <br />and a diverse vegetation community. A standazd has been set by CDMG for the evaluation of <br />species composition at the Keenesburg Mine. To be judged successful, ai final bond release, <br />this standard requires that, "the species composition on the reclaimed area is such that there <br />are at least seven perennial species of which four aze warm season grasses and one is a forb. <br />No one component of the above species should comprise greater than 40% relative <br />importance nor less than 3% relative importance. Relative importance will be measured by <br />calculating relative cover of the revegetation species. Vegetation species which may be used <br />in the calculation of species composition maybe any plant species not defined as a noxious or <br />prohibited plant species, and maybe native or introduced." <br />A comparison of the 2004 species composition data with the revegetation success standard <br />reveals that none of the reclamation azeas or the Osgood sand reference azea meet the final <br />bond release species composition success standazd. All areas sampled lack the requisite <br />number of warm season grasses, the required perennial forb, or under- or over-representation <br />in terms of relative cover by one or more species. <br />Species presence and representation on the reference and reclaimed azeas was generally <br />slightly greater than encountered in 2003, possibly attributable to the precipitation regime <br />favorable to eazly cool season species (Table 14). The Osgood sand reference area contained <br />• two fewer species this year than in 2003, the 1995 reclamation areas contained six more <br />Coors Energy Company Page 18 <br />2004 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />