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Climatic Conditions The dry growing season of 2002 was preceded by a fall and winter of below average precipitation (Figures 6a and 6b). August 2001 was the only month in which above- average precipitation conditions were experienced for the 12 months preceding the July 2002 sampling. As can be seen in Figure 7a, with respect to the 12 months preceding sampling, 2002 was the second driest since 1987, with only 1994 having been drier. When considering the cumulative precipitation through the previous six months (Figures 8a and 8b) and four months (Figures 9a and 9b), it is apparent that 2002 was the driest of the record from 1987 to 2002. Fortunately for plants enduring the water scarcity, 2002 was not a hot year; total degree days from January through June were 2 to 3 percent below average (Figure 10). Cover Observed cover values and derivation of the 2002 herbaceous cover standard are ,~ compiled/documented in the table below: Seneca II-W 2002 Phase III Cover Performance Standard Vegetation Type Mean CoveP 1sUall Ratio" Adj. Mean % of Aff. Area' Sagebrush/Snowberry° 32.3 52.9156.0 30.5 38.0 I Mountain Brushy 26.7 26.7/33.5 21.3 37.3 Aspen Woodland 46.8 29.9/41.5 33.7 7.0 Steep Mountain Brush 44.1 25.3/37.4 30.2 13.9 Alkali Sage./West. Whtgrs. 61.4 89.8/90.4 61.0 3.8 1995 Reclamation Area 29.0 100/100 29.0 NA °All-hit" ref. area cover standard far 2002 (Adj. Means weighted by % of Affected Area) = 28.4%. 90 percent of 2002 ref. area cover standard = 0.9 x 27.2 = 25.8% 'Percent "all-hit" cover (absolute) by herbaceous species as corrected for "allowable" annual and biennial cover (i.e. no more than 10 percent relative cover allowed, See CDMG 1995, 1.IV.A.). "Ratio of relative "first-hit" cover of herbaceous species to relative "all-hit" rover of herbaceous species ° Seneca II-W extended reference area values from data collected in 2002