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The 2002 reclamation areas had five species contributing greater than three percent relative <br />cover this yeaz. The species contributing greater than three percent relative cover included <br />one annual grass, one biennial forb, and three annual forbs. These species included <br />Helianthus annuus (42.02%), Bromus tectorum with (24.12%), Sisymbrium altissimum <br />(11.67%), Melilotus officinalis (7.00%), and Kochia scoparia (5.84%). <br />3.1.6 2003 RECLAMATION AREA <br />The 2003 reclamation area encompasses 8.1 acres of reclamation in Area 29 within the <br />Keenesburg Mine permit azea. Area 29 comprises a segment of reclamation in "B" Pit. <br />Initial seeding with the permanent seed mix took place in November 2003. Specific <br />sampling information for the 2003 reclamation azea is contained in Tables 6 and 7. <br />3.1.6.1 Vegetation Cover <br />Total mean vegetation cover of the 2003 reclamation azea was 52.60 percent. Graminoids <br />provided 23.80 percent mean cover (41.43% relative cover) and forbs accounted for 28.80 <br />percent mean cover (58.57% relative cover). Bromus tectorum, Helianthus annuus, and <br />Kochia scoparia were encountered in all transects. Calamovilfa longifolia and Sisymbrium <br />altissimum were present in 70 percent of transects. <br />Overall within the 2003 reclamation area, Helianthus annuus (12.60% mean and 29.60% <br />relative cover) and Bromus tectorum (15.00% mean cover and 24.61% relative cover) were <br />co-dominant. Five additional species encountered contributed three or more percent relative <br />cover, including; Kochia scoparia with 9.60 percent mean (18.07% relative cover), <br />Sisymbrium altissimum providing 5.20 percent mean total cover and 8.10 percent relative <br />cover, Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian ricegrass) contributing 2.60 percent mean and 5.61 <br />percent relative cover, Bouteloua gracilis providing 2.20 and 4.67 percent mean and relative <br />cover, and Agropyron smithii contributing 1.80 percent mean total and 3.12 percent relative <br />cover. <br />Vegetative litter (prior years growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material) <br />comprised 33.80 percent ground cover overall within the 2003 reclamation area. Bare soil <br />comprised 13.60 percent of the ground cover. No rock or cryptogams were encountered <br />during the cover sampling in the 2003 reclamation azea. <br />3.1.6.2 Herbaceous Production <br />Total herbaceous production within the 2003 reclamation azea was 135.51 g/m2 (1207 lb/ac). <br />3.1.6.3 Species Composition <br />Cover sampling identified two lifeforms and sixteen species within the 2003 reclamation <br />area. The lifeforms included seven species of perennial grass, one annual grass species, two <br />perennial forbs, and six annual forbs. Of the species encountered on the 2003 reclamation <br />azea, ten were native and six were introduced. Perennial species outnumbered annual species <br />by nine to seven. Both warm and cool season species contributed to the seasonality of the <br />Coors Energy Comparry Keenesburg Mine Page 16 <br />2007 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />