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Forbs > 3% relative cover: <br />1. Silvery lupine: 5.90% relative cover <br />2. Yarrow: 3.40% relative cover <br />2006 Reference Area Cover <br />The 2006 reference area cover was 77.85% live vegetative cover, adjusted for exclusion of noxious <br />species Canada thistle (Circium arvense) and Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officanale). The <br />reference area was fenced and showed no sign of grazing activity. Pre-mining cover was 46.1 %. <br />Cover Conclusions <br />The 2005 live vegetative cover value for the reclaimed area was 39.98% (excluding noxious <br />species). The 2006 live vegetative cover value for the reclaimed areas was 36.17% (excluding <br />noxious species). The 2005 live vegetative cover for the reclaimed area was sampled after grazing <br />had occurred and while sheep were on the reclaimed area. The 2006 live vegetative cover for the <br />reclaimed area was sampled after grazing had occurred and while cattle were on the reclaimed area. <br />These results demonstrate that the live vegetative cover of the reclaimed area remained fairly <br />consistent between the sampling years, even with grazing by different livestock. <br />The reference area in both 2005 and 2006 was fenced and not grazed. The 2005 live vegetative <br />cover value for the reference area was 81.67%. The 2006 live vegetative cover value for the <br />reference area was 77.85%. These results demonstrate a relatively consistent reference area cover in <br />2005 and 2006, suggesting relatively similar precipitation and temperature levels during those years. <br />The live vegetative cover values from the reclaimed areas, measured after grazing had occurred, <br />indicate that the reclamation vegetation supports the post-mining land use of rangeland. <br />Pre-mining data recorded the non-grazed herbaceous cover for the reference area as 46.1 %. The <br />average of the 2005 and 2006 live vegetative cover values from the reclaimed areas of 38.08% <br />(excluding noxious species) after grazing represents 82.60% of the pre-mining non-grazed live <br />vegetative cover. The Division concludes that the established cover on the reclaimed areas is similar <br />to the pre-mining cover and is able to recover from annual heavy grazing. <br />The reclaimed areas have consistently been heavily grazed annually, and continue to support the <br />landowner's stocking levels. The reference area has been fenced and has not shown any evidence of <br />having been grazed. Livestock have not been observed grazing in the reference area by Division <br />staff. This demonstrates that the reclaimed areas and reference area have not been managed in a <br />similar method, and therefore are not comparable. Nevertheless, the reclaimed area live vegetative <br />cover values of 39.98% (2005) and 36.17% (2006), measured after grazing had occurred and <br />adjusted to exclude noxious species, indicate that the reclamation vegetation supports the post- <br />mining land use of rangeland. Erosional features were absent, leading the Division to conclude that <br />the cover remaining after heavy grazing continues to protect the ground surface from wind and water <br />erosion. The Division concludes that the established cover on the reclaimed areas is similar to the <br />pre-mining cover and proves itself able to recover from annual heavy grazing. <br />Grassy Gap TOJ 6/5/2009 12