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of native vegetation. Initially, vegetation plantings focused on establishing a thick <br />cover that protected the soil from erosion while having the ability to produce significant <br />amounts of forage for livestock use. Seed mixtures and application rates on western <br />arid and semi -arid lands continued with established traditions resulting in reclamation <br />with acceptable cover and productivity, but dominated by aggressive cool - season <br />grasses and low species diversity. <br />As these mining laws have been adapted to western arid and semi -arid reclamation in <br />the last two decades, increased focus has been placed on the establishment of vegetation <br />communities on reclaimed lands that have higher biodiversity. This focus includes <br />diversity within and between vegetation communities. In response, reclamation <br />research has begun studying the issue of species diversity and seed mix composition <br />and rates. Recently, Munshower (2000) published what many field - experienced <br />reclamationists have observed during their years of reclamation efforts. Munshower's <br />example used a seed mix of three grasses, each at four PLS per square foot and three <br />forbs, each at 2 PLS per square foot for a total of 18 PLS. He states the following: <br />"If we assume that half of the seed germinates and establishes, there remain nine <br />plants on each square foot of soil. There are neither adequate nutrients nor <br />sufficient water to support that number of rapidly growing plants. By the time <br />of review for determination of adequacy of reclamation there are probably only <br />one or two plants surviving on this foot of minesoil. Which plant will it be? <br />Probably the one with the genetic constituents that enable it to utilize the <br />resources of the site rapidly before another plant can absorb them and the plant <br />lucky enough to find these nutrients and moisture. That is, the most competitive <br />and tolerant of the seeded species. We are selecting cultivars for exactly those <br />reasons. We want the new plants to be rapid growing and tolerant of the cold <br />and drought of our prairies and mountains. They do this so well they absorb <br />Appendix G 14 07/ 01/ 02 <br />