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than in 32,0Q6,, <br />In 2 7Jprod tion at both the portal and at the coal sales yard exceeded the standard <br />of 2 0 po s of air dry herbage per year. <br />Species Composition <br />During the two years of sampli g thirty- me species were obserOsalesyard prised of <br />four shrub species, three sub- hr?ibs, ixteen grass species, an een forb <br />species. The overall most domina p ant at the portal and at the coboth <br />years was Rubber rabbitbrush. This native species was one of the few species <br />established at the site in the early 1980's and it reestablished on the reclaimed areas <br />from native seed; it was not included in the seed mix. This shrub provides good <br />browse for wildlife. <br />Of the as essles lve are native species and four are introduc spe ie . The <br />prevalent gr re western wheatgrass, a native cool season asst and mooth <br />brome, an introduced cool season grass. Both of these species pr vide goo forage <br />for cattle. Warm season grasses were also well represented inclu ' e gram <br />and red three awn. It should be noted that sampling occurred relatively early in t e <br />growing season for warm season species. However, it is interesting to note that the <br />dominant as s at the coal sales yard in 2006 were equally western wheatgrass and <br />ot na <br />tive species more tolerant of drought. Smooth brome, an <br />blue gr LeYd)P'ub <br />introdu ec' s, did not contribute to the cover at the coal sales yard an itsX <br />relative at the portal was much less in 2006 than in 2007. / <br />Relative cover orbs at the portal was only 0.5% in 2006 and 7.7% in 2007. At the <br />coal sales y d rel tive forb cover was 3.2% in 2006 and 10.3% in 2007. These <br />numbers ag in re ect the change in climatic conditions between the two years. None <br />of the forb s Gies are listed on Fremont Counties noxious weed list. <br />Vegetation Summary <br />When the Twin Pines Mine site was permitted in 1 84 it as a drastically disturbed <br />area with only 10 % to 20% cover characterized 6 ?' roduced annual forbs and <br />scattered rabbitbrush. In contrast, the post reclamation vegetation cover under <br />extreme stress in 2006 was 20% at both the portal and coal sales yard. Cattle grazing <br />on the reclaimed areas has been observed for several years at both the portal area and <br />at the coal sales yard area. Ins ctor observations indicate that the grazing had a <br />detrimental impact on the r ge tion efforts particularly at the coal sales yard. <br />Under better conditions in tth ve etative cover at the portal was 30.2% and at the <br />coal sales yard 40.6%. B ecl me d areas are characterized by native species <br />indigenous to Fremont Cou ata collected from the reclaimed mine site indicates <br />the area is in much better condition now than when the abandoned contour strip pit <br />was permitted in 1984. <br />9