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reclaimed from the native vegetation. Perhaps the largest difference with regard to species <br />density is in the native perennial forbs category, where native areas (at least the most extensive <br />• native types of Mountain Brush and Sagebrush) tend to have half again to twice as many species <br />of native perennial forbs per 100 sq.m than the four or two year old, 2005 and 2007 reclaimed <br />areas. The seven year, 2002 Reclaimed Area, was very comparable with less species density of <br />native perennial forbs than the Mountain Brush and Sagebrush Reference Areas. Data for total <br />native species density in the 2002 reclamation areas was 18.5 species per 100 sq.m. in 2009, <br />down one species per 100 sq. m. since year 2006 (19.6 species per 100 sq.m.; ESCO 2007), and <br />up 5 species per 100 sq.m. since year 2004 (13.5 species per 100 sq. m.; ESCO 2005). Data for <br />total native species density in the 2005 reclamation areas was 20.4 species per 100 sq.m. in <br />2008, which had slightly less species per 100 sq.m. since year 2007 (20.7 species per 100 sq.m.; <br />ESCO 2008). Average total species density on the 2002 and the 2007 reclaimed areas did not <br />exceed any of the reference areas (Figure 4). Average total species density on the 2005 <br />reclaimed areas only exceeds the Steep Mountain Brush extended reference area. <br />Sample Adequacy <br />A summary of sample adequacy calculations for the parameters of cover, herbaceous production, <br />and woody plant density is presented in Table 24 (Appendix 1). As can be seen in this table, the <br />• data sets for cover for two of the three reclamation areas as well as the four sampled extended <br />reference areas all achieved sample adequacy. The data set for the 2007 reclaimed area did not <br />achieve sample adequacy. The data sets for production collected in the reclaimed and the <br />reference areas did not achieve sample adequacy. Note that no formal testing for Phase III bond <br />release that would involve herbaceous production were undertaken this year, so achievement of <br />adequacy was not at issue. As would be expected, minimum sample sizes for background area <br />shrub sampling far exceeded those taken. <br />U <br />15