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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. Frequency for each plant species observed <br />during sampling was calculated by dividing the number of sample tranSeCts in which the species <br />was observed by the total number of samples (see cover sample distribution by area above). As <br />such, this value is probably more correctly known as constancy. <br />The total number of species within each lifeform observed in each 100 square meter sample <br />provides a measure of "species density", indicating the relative species richness of different <br />areas. These measures provide a means of examining progress toward the return of diverse <br />species composition in the reclaimed areas. <br />Plant Species Listing <br />Scientific names used follow Weber and Wittman (1996); common names cited are found in <br />Beetle (1970), Nickerson et al. (1976), or Soil Conservation Service (1979). Cross-references <br />between older names and the revised scientific nomenclature for the flora of Western Colorado <br />used here can be made by reference to Appendix 2 of this report. <br />During the course of the fieldwork, a list of all plant species encountered (quantitative plus <br />• incidental observations) was compiled for the reclamation area and the two reference areas. <br />These lists are summarized in Appendix 2, Species Presence for All Areas, which includes <br />current nomenclature and cross-references to older nomenclature. Note that all big sagebrush <br />plants encountered were referred to as Seriphidium tridentatum. Plants referred to here as Poa <br />secunda are the plants formerly known as big bluegrass (Poa ampla) that were included in the <br />seed mixes as such. The taxonomic treatment of Weber and Wittmann ('1996) places Poa ampla <br />(as well as Poa sandbergii) with Poa secunda. Despite this merger, the distinctness of Poa <br />ampla is worth noting. <br />Photographic Record <br />Within each reclamation and reference area, representative color photographs were taken to <br />document the appearance of the vegetation in 2009 (Appendix 4). Within each reclaimed area <br />photograph, a placard identifies the particular area and sample. <br />Statistical Methods <br />Sampling was conducted at randomly located sites. Random map points for sampling locations <br />were generated randomly using ESRI ArcMap 9.3 software and Hawth's Analysis Tools for <br />ArcGIS (Beyer 2004). Garmin GPS60 units (accuracy to 3 m) and topographic maps were used in <br />. the field to locate random points. Cover and woody plant density transects were randomly <br />oriented; production samples were located randomly behind the transect origin. At each <br />3