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ranged from 23 to 94. Between 3 and 11 plant species were intercepted on any one <br />transect, with an overall average of 6.8 species/per transect. The refuse area (R) had <br />the highest average species number per transect at 9.3, while the east side of the <br />Northern No. 1 mine (NE) had the lowest average (4.9 species/transect). <br />No plant species had a relative cover exceeding 40% (highest - 17.8%). Ten <br />species were found to contribute greater than 3% relative cover. (This high diversity is <br />not a mirage. In 1992, seven species were found to be contributing between 3 and <br />40% relative cover.) Nine of the ten species were perennial. grasses, including <br />Bromopsis inermis (BRIN), Elytrigia intermedia (ELIN), Elytrigia intermedia ssp. <br />barbulata (ELINB - which is only a subspecies according to Weber (1984) but more <br />often is treated as a separate species from ELIN), Elytrigia repens (ELRE), Festuca <br />rubra (FERU), Leymus cinereus (LECI), Pascopyrum smithii (PASM), Phalaroides <br />arundiacea (PHARU), and Poa pratensis (POPR). Only one of the ten species was a <br />forb, Astragalus cicer (ASCI). Despite the high diversity, the reclaimed site would fail <br />according to the strict application of the present standard. However, it is important to <br />note two things. First, a forb (Artemisia ludoviciana - ARLU) and a shrub <br />(Chrysothamnus nauseosus - CHNA) have relative covers of 2.0 or above. Thus, the <br />remaining species required to meet the present diversity standard are present but are <br />just under the 3.0% minimum. Second, the operator has been carrying out a noxious <br />weed program, which may result in reduced quantities of non-noxious forbs and <br />shrubs. Thus, required application of the noxious weed plan may have reduced the <br />operator's ability o meet the requirements of the present species diversity success <br />standard. The present diversity of 10 is exceptional in spite of it being due primarily to <br />perennial grasses. If high diversity is equivalent to high community stability, the <br />present reclaimed community can be viewed confidently as being stable. Additionally, <br />it is the opinion of the operator that a high diversity of grasses, given the small amount <br />8