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3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 Phase II Summary <br />A total of 44 plant species were observed within the Phase II Bond Release area (all or part of 41 <br />revegetated units) evaluated in 2007 (See Plates 1 & 2). These consisted of 23 grass taxa, 15 forbs, and <br />5 shrubs (see Table A -1 in Appendix A). Table A -1 indicates all taxa observed during fieldwork. Among <br />these taxa is the invasive weed cheatgrass (including Japanese brome), existing as notable patches. <br />Ground cover in the Phase II Bond Release area (Table 1 and Chart 1) consisted of 66.9% live <br />vegetation, 0.5% rock, 21.1% litter, and bare soil exposure of 11.5 %. Perennial cover across the unit <br />averaged 58.3% (87.1% relative cover) with annual and biennial cover averaging 8.6% absolute cover <br />(12.9% relative cover). Dominant taxa were thickspike wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystacfiyum), Kentucky <br />bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intennedium), and cicer milkvetch <br />(Astraga /us cicef) with 13.0 %, 9.7 %, 4.9 %, and 4.6% average cover, respectively. With regard to <br />diversity, the Phase II Bond Release Area exhibited 8 perennial grasses and 1 perennial forb with <br />between 3% and 50% relative cover. <br />3.2 Reference Areas <br />3.2.1 Mountain Shrub Reference Area <br />The Mountain Shrub Reference Area is comprised of approximately 18 acres of gently to moderately <br />sloping vegetation that has a predominately northwesterly aspect (mesic) and easterly aspect (xeric) (see <br />Plate 3). The Mountain Shrub Reference Area was expanded in 2005 to include the east - facing slope of <br />the ridge to provide representation from the xeric subtype of Mountain Shrub. The purpose of this <br />inclusion is to provide a better representation of the distribution of Mountain Shrub communities located <br />on and around Colowyo properties. The xeric exposure tends to exhibit more elevated herbaceous <br />parameters given a modest reduction in the overstory. This reference area is located on a ridge west of <br />the West Pit Area (see Map 1). <br />A total of 35 plant taxa were observed in this reference area (see Table A -1). Ground cover in the <br />Mountain Shrub Reference Area (Table 1) consisted of 56.4% live vegetation, 0.7% rock, 33.6% litter, <br />and bare soil exposure of 9.4 %. Perennial cover across the unit averaged 51.4% with annual and <br />biennial cover averaging 5.0 %. Dominant taxa were Mountain big sagebrush, bluegrass (Poa <br />agasizensis), slender wheatgrass, Nelson's needlegrass (Sbpf a neisonii), and cheatgrass with 11.3 %, <br />7.8 %, 6.3 %, 5.4 %, and 4.6% average cover, respectively. With regard to diversity, the Mountain Shrub <br />Colowyo Mine 12 Phase II Bond Release - 2007 <br />