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3.12 Roadside South Portal Upper Diversion Ditch <br />Ground cover of the Roadside South Portal Upper Diversion Ditch consisted of 48.5% live <br />vegetation, 14.2% rock, 11.1% litter, and bare soil exposure of 26.2% (Table 3b). Perennial cover <br />across the unit averaged 8.7% (up from 5.3% in 2006) with annual and biennial cover averaging 39.8% <br />(up from 37.3% in 2006). Dominant taxa were cheatgrass, filaree, forage kochia, and Palmer <br />penstemon with 26.4%, 13.2%, 4.2%, and 3.0% average cover, respectively. <br />This unit passes the revegetation success criterion of 90% of the Shadscale Reference Area value <br />when both annual and perennial cover values are combined. It also passes when only perennial cover is <br />compared (Table 1). <br />The Roadside South Portal Upper Diversion Ditch currently passes two of the four diversity <br />standards. There is sufficient cover of perennial forbs or sub-shrubs to pass the required minimum <br />values, and there are no planted species with greater than 70% relative cover. However, the present <br />relative cover of perennial warm-season grasses (0.2%) and perennial cool-season grasses (0.4%) is <br />insufficient to pass the required minimum value (2.0% and 0.5%, respectively). <br />Qualitative analysis indicates that the Roadside South Upper Diversion Ditch area is in fair condition <br />overall. Forb and shrub diversity is good, however, grasses exhibit little diversity throughout the unit. <br />The sloped, northern section of this unit is exhibiting a much better diversity of perennial forbs and <br />shrubs than the flat, southern portion of this unit. <br />3.13 South Fan - East Area <br />Ground cover of the South Fan - East area consisted of 32.2% live vegetation, 27.1% rock, 12.9% <br />litter, and bare soil exposure of 27.8% (Table 3b). Perennial cover across the unit averaged 17.5% (up <br />from 10.1% in 2006) with annual and biennial cover averaging 14.7% (down from 26.5% in 2006). <br />Dominant taxa were fourwing saltbush, cheatgrass, halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus), and Russian <br />wildrye with 7.7%, 7.2%, 5.3%, and 4.6% average cover, respectively. <br />This unit fails the revegetation success criterion of 90% of the Shadscale Reference Area value when <br />both annual and perennial cover values are combined. However, it passes when only perennial cover is <br />compared (Table 1). <br />The South Fan - East area currently passes three of the four diversity standards. There is sufficient <br />cover of perennial forbs or sub-shrubs and perennial cool-season grasses to pass the required minimum <br />values, and there are no planted species with greater than 70% relative cover. However, the present <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 23 Snowcap Coal Co. - 2008 <br />Revegetation Evaluation