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• tenaciously present as discussed above. Also note that the portion of the total <br />vegetation cover provided by native perennial herbaceous species is, in some areas like <br />the Section 16 Reclamation, comparable to that found in the Reference Areas. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />Levels of woody plant density (Figure 9) present in the 2002 sampled areas are mostly <br />below 300 stems per acre. The existing standard is 1000 stems per acre. The <br />exceptions in Section 16 -1998 Reclamation and the East Pit - 2000 Reclamation are <br />encouraging but not typical. Although the on-going plot studies by Colorado State <br />University may provide new insights to shrub establishment for future Reclamation <br />efforts, revisitation of the ecology of shrubs in the existing reclamation is appropriate. <br />Noxious Weeds <br />Of species observed during 2002 monitoring (Appendix 2), the following are among <br />those of concern in Moffat County: <br />• Musk Thistle. This biennial weed occurs in very scattered locations in the East <br />. Pit 1995 (13% of plots), 1998 (7% of plots), and 2000 (7% of plots) areas as well as in <br />the West Pit 1998 (40% of plots) and 2000 (40% of plots) areas. <br />• Houndstongue. This weed is very extensive in northwest Colorado. On the <br />Colowyo site, it was observed in 2002 in the Section 16 1998 area (40% of plots), all <br />East Pit areas, and in the West Pit 2000 reclamation (20% of plots). In the East Pit <br />areas, it was common only in the East Pit 2000 area (present in over half the plots there) <br />and moderately common in the East Pit 1995 area (20% of plots). <br />• Black Henbane. This weed was found only in the East Pit 2000 area in very <br />small amounts (one of 15 plots). <br />• Common Mullein. This plant was likewise observed only in the East Pit 2000 <br />area in small amounts (two of 15 plots). <br />• Canada Thistle. This rhizomatous perennial was present in the Section 16 <br />1995 reclamation (in about half the plots), the East Pit pre-1995 area (15% of plots), the <br />East Pit 1995 area (7% of plots), the East Pit 1998 area (27% of plots), and West Pit <br />1995 area (40% of plots). <br />8 <br />