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2.2.3 Herbaceous Production <br />• Herbaceous production was estimated by the harvest method. One herbaceous production <br />plot was located and randomly oriented at the origin of each cover transect. Additional <br />production plots were randomly located. Herbaceous production plots were 0.50 square <br />meters in area. All current year above ground live herbaceous plant biomass was clipped <br />within the 0.50 square meter quadrat. Production material was air dried until weights varied <br />by no more than 0.1 g. <br />2.2.4 Species Composition <br />Species composition information was derived from quantitative vegetation cover data. <br />Relative cover information provided a basis for evaluation of the importance of each <br />encountered plant species and lifeform and for comparison to the final revegetation success <br />criterion. The tables presenting data summaries for total vegetation cover for each area <br />sampled also contain the relative cover by species, and a column depicting the numerical <br />ranking of each species by relative cover within the area. <br />2.3 SAMPLE NUMBERS/SAMPLE ADEQUACY <br />For the purposes of vegetation monitoring at the Keenesburg Mine, set numbers of samples <br />were established for the parameters to be sampled by Savage and Savage and Coors Energy <br />Company. The number of samples taken for each reclamation year was consistent with <br />numbers agreed to in the past by CDRMS. In each revegetated area, the size and number of <br />• parcels dictated the total number of samples taken, as described above. <br />Since the purpose of this sampling was the monitoring of the vegetative condition at the <br />revegetated areas of the mine, sampling need not meet sample adequacy requirements. <br />Minimum sample sizes and standard deviation are reported as an indication of variability of <br />the sampled parameters. Comparisons between sample mean parameter values assume that <br />the sample mean value accurately represents the population mean in all cases. <br />2.4 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 2002 RECLAMATION AREAS <br />• The 2002 reclamation areas encompass just over 13 acres of reclamation in two distinct <br />parcels within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. The areas include Area 23, a small area <br />Coors Energy Company KeenerWrg Mine Page 8 <br />2009 Revegetation Monitoring Report