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production, and shrub density is presented in Table 2, Southfield Mine Statistical Summary and <br />Sample Adequacy Calculations. This comparison documents that a sufficient number of samples <br />were collected to describe the parameters of total plant cover at the required ninety percent <br />confidence interval. <br />Transect Locations. All of the cover, production and shrub density transects sampled in this <br />evaluation from the different reclamation and reference areas sampled are shown on the enclosed <br />maps. The specific details corresponding to each reclamation area or reference area sampled <br />will be discussed in connection with the discussion pertaining to each site. <br />VENTO RECLAMATION <br />Cover. The results obtained from the 10 cover transects sampled on this site in 2010 are found <br />in Table 3, Vento Reclamation - Plant Cover. Total plant cover on this site averaged 60.30 <br />percent and litter averaged 23.60 percent (Table 3, Vento Reclamation - Plant Cover.) <br />Perennial grasses dominated the plant cover on this site contributing 33.10 percent of the total <br />cover or 54.91 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Perennial forbs contributed a total <br />of 8.50 percent of the total cover and accounted for 14.10 percent of the total relative cover on <br />this site. Annuals and biennials contributed a total of 5.40 percent of the total cover and <br />accounted for 8.96 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Shrubs contributed a total of <br />12.70 percent to the total cover and accounted for 21.06 percent of the total relative cover on this <br />reclaimed site. <br />Western Wheatgrass was the dominant plant growing on this site, contributing a total of 20.30 <br />percent or the total cover or 33.67 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Cicer <br />Milk vetch, Fourwing Saltbush, Rubber Rabbitbrush and Sideoats Grama were the other <br />dominants on this site, contributing 11.61, 11.11, 6.97 and 5.47 percent, respectively, of the total <br />relative cover on this area. <br />When sampled in 2006, the average total plant cover on this site, averaged 42.53 percent and <br />litter averaged 33.27 percent. The most dramatic changes in plant cover seem to be associated <br />with a reduction in the cover of perennial grasses which contributed 28.73 percent of the total <br />cover plant cover and accounted for 67.56 percent of the total relative cover on this site in 2006 <br />as compared to 33.10 and 54.91 percent, respectively in 2010.. Shrub cover has increased from <br />an average of 2.07 percent of the total cover or 4.85 percent of the total relative cover in 2006 to <br />12.70 and 21.06 percent, respectively in 2010. <br />The final revegetation success standard for plant cover for the areas corresponding to the Vento <br />Reclamation are to be based upon a weighted average from the sampling of the two reference <br />areas. However, based upon the historic sampling of the Grassland Reference Area, where <br />sample adequacy was obtained in 1987 and 1997 yielded a value of 41.00 percent. Ninety <br />percent of this value would be 36.9 percent The total cover value obtained from the 2010 <br />reclamation sampling yielded a value of 60.30 percent which exceeds the probable revegetation <br />success standard. <br />6 <br />