Laserfiche WebLink
species, the 1997 reclamation areas comprised one more species than in 2003, the 1998 <br />• reseeded or interseeded areas increased in species numbers from fifteen in 2003 to seventeen <br />this year, and the 1999 reclamation azeas neazly doubled species numbers from 2003, <br />increasing from eleven to 21. <br />4.5 COMPARISON OF VEGETATION COMMUNITIES: 19942004 <br />Direct comparison of the 2004 monitoring data for the areas sampled with that of previous <br />yeazs can only be undertaken for a short time period (six to seven yeazs). Savage and Savage <br />has monitored the Osgood sand reference azea continuously since 1994. The 1985, 1986, and <br />1987 reclamation areas were monitored from 1994 through Phase II bond release in 1998 <br />(Savage and Savage, 1994-1998). The 1995 reclamation azeas were initially monitored in <br />1998. Monitoring of the 1995 reclamation azeas began in 1998, while initial quantitative <br />monitoring of the 1997 reclamation areas and 1998 reseeded or interseeded areas began in <br />1999. The 1999 reclamation azeas were monitored for the second time this season. <br />Table 14 presents comparisons of relative cover for encountered plant species within the <br />Osgood sand reference area and the 1995, 1997, 1998, and 1999 reclaimed azeas for the years <br />1994-2004. Within the table are several interesting trends revealing changes in species <br />composition at the reference and reclaimed azeas. These trends aze likely attributable to the <br />ambient precipitation regime, vegetation community development, and management of the <br />areas and adjacent property. <br />• 4.5.1 Osgood Sand Reference Area <br />The Osgood sand reference azea has been quantitatively sampled for vegetation cover, <br />herbaceous production and species composition yeazly since 1994. Total vegetation cover <br />and total herbaceous production levels appeaz directly and tightly correlated to the <br />yeazly precipitation regime (Savage, 2000). The species composition of vegetation <br />communities is more reflective of the long term adaptability of the individual species <br />comprising the community. <br />Of the twenty-eight species encountered within the Osgood sand reference area since 1994, <br />only four have been continuously represented from 1994 to 2004 (the Sfrpa species have been <br />considered the same species). These species aze Bouteloua gracilis, Calamovilfa longifolia, <br />Stipa viridula, and Artemisia filifodia. For the first time, Andropogon hallii was not <br />encountered in cover sampling this season. Whether this is indicative of an overall decrease in <br />this species or a result of yeazly growth fluctuations is not known at this time. These species <br />should be considered to be the determinate core species for the reference azea. They can be <br />categorized as a perennial deciduous woody shrub, two perennial warm season gasses, and <br />one cool season grass. Forb presence and numbers within the reference azea aze directly <br />related to precipitation amounts and distribution. <br />During this growing season, the four core species comprised 83.9 percent of the total relative <br />cover of all species in the reference azea. Of these species, the perennial graminoid cool <br />• season species increased in relative cover this season, while the perennial warm season grasses <br />Loore Energy Company Page 19 <br />2004 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />