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4.5.3 1997 Reclamation Areas <br />. Quantitative sampling has been undertaken in this azea for the past six growing seasons. <br />During this time thirty-eight species have been encountered. Of those species, six have been <br />present in all yeazs. These species include one perennial warm season grass (Calamovilfa <br />longifolia), one perennial cool season grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), one annual grass <br />(Bromus tectorum), one perennial native forb (Ambrosia psilostachya), one native annual forb <br />(Helianthus annuus), and one introduced annual forb (Kochia scoparia). <br />Tn the 1997 reclamation areas this year, relative cover representation by the core species <br />above varied significantly. The cool season introduced annual grass Bromus tectorum and the <br />cool season native perennial grass Oryzopsis hymenoides decreased significantly (76% and <br />53% respectively) in relative cover. Warm season perennial native grass Calamovilfa <br />longifolia increased significantly (264%). Ambrosia psilostachya, the native perennial forb, <br />and the introduced annual Kochia scoprnia both increased significantly in relative cover this <br />year (77% and 236%, respectively), Helianthus annuus decreased a significant 96 percent <br />this season. These changes reflect the significance of the precipitation conditions on both <br />relative cover and species composition in this area. <br />4.5.4 1998 Reseeded or Interseeded Areas <br />Quantitative sampling has been undertaken in these areas for the past six growing seasons. <br />During this time thirty-four species have been encountered. Of the species encountered, eight <br />• have been present all years. These species include three native perennial warm season grasses <br />(Bouteloua curfipendula, Boutedoua gracilis, and Calamovilfa longifolia), two perennial <br />native cool season gasses (Agropyron smithii and Oryzopsis hymenoides), one introduced <br />annual grass (Bromus tectorum), one native annual forb (Helianthus arnnrus), and one <br />introduced annual forb (Kochia scoparia). <br />As with the 1997 reclamation azeas, the core species of the 1998 reseeded or interseeded <br />areas revealed increases and decreases in relative cover this growing season. Of the <br />graminoids, the cool season grass Agropyron smithii and the warm season grass Calamovilfa <br />longifodia revealed increased relative cover this season (163% and 193%, respectively). The <br />remaining graminoids, the warm season natives Bouteloua curtipendula and Bouteloua <br />gracilis and the cool season native Oryzopsis hymenoides deceased significantly, as did the <br />cool season annual Bromus tectorum. As noted in all areas, relative cover increased <br />significantly this year. Kochia scoparia and Helianthus annuus both increased in relative <br />cover this season, Kochia significantly (227%). <br />4.5.5 1999 Reclamation Areas <br />Quantitative sampling has been undertaken in these azeas for the past two growing seasons. <br />The short record of sampling precludes any observation or speculation regarding long-term <br />trends at this time. However, this season revealed a significant increase in species from 11 in <br />2003 to 21 this season. Both graminoids and forbs increased in numbers (7-12 in graminoids, <br /> <br />Coors Energy Company Page 21 <br />2004 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />