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type by the total number of points taken (100). First hit relative vegetation cover was calculated <br />by dividing first hit absolute cover for each species by the total first hit vegetation cover. All-layer <br />i absolute cover (COVER-ALL column in data tables) was calculated by dividing all hits (first-hits <br />and additional-hits) for a particular species by the total number of points taken (100). In addition, <br />all-layer relative cover was calculated using all hits for a particular species divided by the total hits <br />accumulated during sampling of the transect. <br />Herbaceous Production Sampling <br />Herbaceous production sampling was accomplished in the 2002, 2005, and 2007 (Yoast Mine) <br />reclaimed areas and in the Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush/Snowberry, and Steep Mountain <br />Brush Reference Areas (Seneca IIW Mine) using one-half square meter (0.5 m2) circular plots <br />within which all herbaceous growth in a vertical projection was removed by clipping, and placed in <br />labeled paper bags. Lichens, mosses, and woody plant species present in the sample plot were <br />not collected. Clipped plants were not grouped into the usual life forms as they were bagged, but <br />rather were "Blitz Clipped" with all lifeforms placed in the same bag to obtain a rough estimate of <br />herbaceous production progress. Clipped material was returned to the ESCO laboratory and <br />dried at 105 °C for 24 hours, then weighed to the nearest 0.1 gm. <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling <br />• Woody plant density sampling was undertaken in the reclaimed areas but did not occur in the <br />reference areas. Woody plant density samples were collected along 50 m transects. All shrubs <br />and subshrubs with root crowns located within the boundaries of 2 X 50 m quadrats (belt <br />transects) were tallied according to species and life stages as either seedling, mature, or dead. <br />The presence of dead individuals was recorded but did not contribute to woody plant density <br />calculations. Woody plant concentration areas were not sampled at the Yoast Mine in 2009. <br />Lifeforms Used in Data Presentation <br />As a tool to enhance understanding of the collected data, the contents of all data and summary <br />tables are organized by- lifeform. Lifeform categories used here reflect growth habit and <br />provenance (place of origin). Lifeform categories used include the following: native annual and <br />biennial forbs, introduced annual and biennial forbs, introduced annual grasses, native perennial <br />forbs, introduced perennial forbs, native perennial graminoids (includes grasses and grass-like <br />plants), introduced perennial graminoids, native shrubs, native trees, bryophytes, succulents, and <br />fungi. <br />Plant Species Frequency and Density Measurements <br />During the course of cover sampling, all plant species occurring within one meter of either side of <br />the cover sample transect were noted as present within each sample. Frequency for each plant <br />• species observed during sampling of a particular area was calculated by dividing the number of <br />2