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production means for the 1998, 1999, and 2000 reclamation area sampling units significantly <br />exceeded the final herbaceous production criterion value, therefore no statistical analysis was <br />necessary. <br />2.5 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION <br />Species identification was accomplished in the field through the use of plant identification <br />keys (Harrington, 1954, Weber, 1990; Whitson, 1987; Zimdahl, 1990, Stubbendieck, et al, <br />1995). In cases where plant identification was inconclusive in the field, voucher specimens <br />were pressed for lab identification. <br />3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION: RECLAMATION AREAS <br />3.1.1 1998,1999, and 2000 RECLAMATION AREAS <br />The 1998 reclamation areas sampled this year encompass 17.64 acres of reclamation in five <br />areas within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The areas include Area 2, an area <br />immediately west of the dugout, Areas 7 and 10, two areas south and east of the central <br />reclaimed mining area, and Areas 15 and 16, located north and west of the former A pit and <br />bordered on the west and south by undisturbed range. Vegetation cover transects and <br />herbaceous production quadrats were distributed within the five areas based on size. The <br />1998 reclamation areas range from flat (Areas 2, 7) to north and south facing (Areas 15, 16, <br />and 10, respectively). Reseeding or interseeding with the permanent seed mix took place <br />during the autumn of 1998 within these areas with the goal of increasing perennial graminoid <br />representation. <br />The 1999 reclamation areas encompass a total of 17.36 acres of reclamation in two distinct <br />parcels within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The areas are found on the south and east <br />sides of the mine; Area 5, a 2.63 acre parcel south of the topsand piles, and Area 9, 14.73 <br />acres of the former A Pit. Area 5 is nearly flat with a gentle slope (<1 °) to the north and east. <br />Area 9 slopes slightly to the north. Reclamation and coincident revegetation within these <br />areas took place in 1999. Replaced soils were sandy in texture. <br />The 2000 reclamation areas sampled this year encompass 7.29 acres of reclamation in two <br />distinct parcels within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The areas include Area 6, a former <br />haul road along the southeast boundary of the mining area and Area 19, another former haul <br />road in the center of the reclaimed mining area. Vegetation cover transects and herbaceous <br />production quadrats were distributed within the two areas based on size. The 2000 <br />reclamation areas range from flat to gently sloping (<1 to 2°). Interseeding with the <br />permanent seed mix took place in 2003 within these areas with the goal of increasing <br />perennial graminoid representation. <br />0 Specific sampling information for the 1998, 1999, and 2000 reclamation areas is contained in <br />Tables 1, 2, and 3. <br />Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 8 <br />Areas 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 19 Vegetation Study (2009)