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very minor component of the total cover and did not present a problem. Production <br />on the coal sales yard was 949.3 pounds per acre. This is 778 pounds per acre more <br />than in 2006. <br />In 2007 production at both the portal and at the coal sales yard exceeded the standard <br />of 200 pounds of air dry herbage per year. <br />Species Composition <br />During the two years of sampling thirty-nine species were observed and included <br />four shrub species, three sub-shrubs, sixteen grass species, and seventeen forb <br />species. Overall, the most dominant plant at the portal and at the coal sales yard <br />both 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 grasses, twelve are native species and four are introduced species. The <br />prevalent grasses are western wheatgrass, a native cool season grass, and smooth <br />brome, an introduced cool season grass. Both of these species provide good forage <br />for cattle. Warm season grasses were also well represented including blue grama <br />and red three awn. It should be noted that sampling occurred relatively early in the <br />growing season for warm season species. However, it is interesting to note that the <br />dominant grasses at the coal sales yard in 2006 were equally western wheatgrass and <br />blue grama, both native species more tolerant of drought. Smooth brome, an <br />introduced species, did not contribute to the cover at the coal sales yard and its <br />relative cover at the portal was much less in 2006 than in 2007. <br />Relative cover of forbs at the portal was only 0.5% in 2006 and 7.7% in 2007. At the <br />coal sales yard, relative forb cover was 3.2% in 2006 and 10.3% in 2007. These <br />numbers again reflect the change in climatic conditions between the two years. None <br />of the forb species are listed on Fremont Counties noxious weed list. <br />Vegetation Summary <br />When the Twin Pines No. 2 Mine site was permitted in 1984, it was a drastically <br />disturbed area with only 10 % to 20% cover characterized by introduced annual forbs <br />and 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 have been observed for several years at both the portal area <br />and at the coal sales yard area. Inspector observations indicate that the grazing had a <br />detrimental impact on the revegetation efforts particularly at the coal sales yard. <br />Under better conditions in 2007, vegetative cover at the portal was 30.2% and at the <br />coal sales yard 40.6%. Both reclaimed areas are characterized by native species <br />indigenous to Fremont County. Data collected from the reclaimed mine site indicates <br />9