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-46- <br /> 1 ) Areas to be compared to the aspen woodland vegetation type: <br /> Herbaceous cover - 56.310 <br /> Herbaceous production - 67.9 g/m2 <br /> Woody plant density - 100 trees, 500 shrubs/acre <br /> Species diversity - 2 cool season grass species and 6 forb <br /> species 3% relative cover <br /> 2) Areas to be compared to the aspen shrubland vegetation type : <br /> Herbaceous cover - 60.8% <br /> Herbaceous production - 67.9 g/m2 <br /> Woody plant density - 100 trees, 500 shrubs/acre <br /> Species diversity - 2 cool season grass species and 7 forb <br /> species 3% relative cover <br /> 3) Areas to be compared to the spruce/fir parkland vegetation <br /> type: <br /> Herbaceous cover - 46.80% <br /> Herbaceous production - 56.9 g/m2 <br /> Woody plant density - 100 trees, 500 shrubs/acre <br /> Species diversity - 5 cool season grass species and 3 foro <br /> species 3% relative cover <br /> The species diversity standard was calculated using the relative cover <br /> method. By this method, the number of species having a relative cover of <br /> 3 percent or greater deternines the species diversity standard. <br /> As part of the post-mining land use, the U.S. Forest Service has <br /> requested that the haul roads be left following downgrading to access <br /> roads. The haul roads will be downgraded to access roads starting in <br /> approximately 1988. Therefore, a reference area is not needed for the <br /> haul roads. <br /> When the mine benches were constructed (starting in 1956) , the excavated <br /> material was spoiled downslope, leaving long slopes at the angle of <br /> repose. Reclamation of these slopes will be difficult. It is <br /> impractical to replace this material on the mine benches and the <br /> disturbance that would be associated with replacement would be <br /> extensive. The only practical method for reclaiming the outslopes is <br /> reveoetation of the material in-place. Because of the long steep slopes, <br /> little or no toosoil can be practically replaced. In addition, topsoil <br /> is not available for reclamation of these outslooes. Since no topsoil is <br /> available for revegetation of the outslooes, the revegetated surface <br /> cannot oe practically compared to the oaseline vegetation data. <br /> The only practical alternative for judging revegetation success is to <br /> compare these areas to a successional stage to spruce/fir parkland. <br /> :numerous researcn studies have shown that, wnere topsoil is unavailable, <br /> reclaiming to a successional stage of the climax revecetation type is the <br />