2010-04-05_REPORT - C1982057 (3)

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locations within the reclaimed areas sampled in 2009, as well as photographs of the reference areas, are included in Appendix 4. Graphs of vegetation and climate data are presented in • Figures 1 through 9 of this report. In the cover descriptions below, species listed as "also present" were not "hit" during point- intercept sampling but were present within one meter of either side of the 50 m sample transect line. Unless otherwise stated, all cover values are for absolute first hit data only. Percentages are rounded to facilitate discussion of the results. Phase ll Bond Release (Photographs 1-16) COVER (Table 1) Calculation of 90 percent of the cover performance standard appropriate for 2009 sampling is demonstrated below. Aspen Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 76.5 (11% of prernine) • Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 35.9 (34.5% of premine) Sagebrush Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 29.2 (31.3% of premine) Steep Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 16.4 (12.8% of premine) Western Wheat Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 24.6 (10.4% of premine) * All Hit Allowable Herbaceous cover adjusted by subtracting noxious weeds and annual/biennial plant cover in excess of 10% of the remainder. 90 percent of the Cover Standard = 0.90 [0.11(76.5) + 0.345(35.9) + 0.313(29.2) + 0.128(16:4) +0.104(24.6)] = 31.1% As can be seen in Figure 1a, the mean allowable total "all hit" herbaceous cover observed in the Phase II reclaimed area (46.3 percent) exceeded 90 percent of the standard (31.1 percent) set by the reference areas. Native perennial cool season grasses, introduced perennial forbs and introduced perennial cool season grasses were the predominant lifeforms observed in the Phase If Bond Release Area, comprising 33.2, 27.1 and 14.0 percent of first-hit vegetation cover respectively. Introduced annual and biennial forbs, native perennial forbs, native annual and biennial forbs, introduced • annual grasses and native shrubs comprised 12.2, 7.4, 2.1, 2.0 and 1.7 percent of cover, respectively. Native perennial cool season grass cover was composed mostly of western 8