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Shrub Density. The shrub density counts obtained from the 30 belt transects taken in this area <br />are summarized in Table 8, 1999 Reclamation - Shrub Density. The average shrub density was <br />determined to equal 75.57 shrubs per one hundred square meters or 2,936.9 shrubs per acre. <br />Douglas Rabbitbrush, Wyoming Big Sagebrush and Rubber Rabbitbrush were the dominant <br />shrubs found growing on this reclaimed site. The revegetation shrub density success standard <br />for this area at the time of final bond release is 1,500 stems per acre or 37.06 stems per 100 m 2 . <br />Since this site averaged 2,936.9 shrubs per acre or nearly twice the success standard, it can be <br />concluded by direct comparison, that the 1999 Reclamation site, satisfies the final revegetation <br />success standard with respect to shrub density. <br />When IME sampled this site in 2005, they reported that shrub density averaged 36.30 shrubs per <br />one hundred square meters or 1,358.6 shrubs per acre. These monitoring data confirm the trends <br />that native plants and shrubs are continuing to increase on this site over time. <br />The locations of the 30 shrub density transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 2, 1999 <br />Reclamation - Vegetation Transect Location Map. Examination of the sample adequacy <br />calculations in Table 2, Kerr Mine Sample Adequacy Calculations, reveals the number of <br />transects required to characterize this site with respect to shrub density at the 90 percent <br />statistical confidence interval was 103.9 transects. <br />Species Diversity. The forage quality index calculations for this site are found in Table 9, 1999 <br />Reclamation - Forage Quality Index Calculations. As are documented in these calculations, the <br />forage quality index value for the 1999 Reclamation at the Marr Mine as sampled in 2009 was <br />determined to equal 459.62. Since the forage quality index value of 459.62 on the 1999 <br />Reclamation site exceeds the Alkali Reference Area value of 193.94, it can be concluded that the <br />species diversity /forage quality value has been satisfied on the 1999 Reclaimed site located at <br />the Marr Mine. <br />TIPPLE REFERENCE AREA <br />Plant Cover. The results obtained from the 15 randomized cover transects sampled on this site <br />in 2005 are found in Table 10, Tipple Reference Area - Plant Cover. Total plant cover on this <br />site averaged 26.60 percent and litter averaged 18.80 percent (Table 10, Tipple Reference Area - <br />Plant Cover.) <br />Shrubs and subshrubs were the most dominant plant life form on this site contributing 12.73 <br />percent of the total cover or 47.87 percent of the total relative cover on this reference area. <br />Perennial forbs were the second most dominant plant life form and contributed a total of 9.47 <br />percent or 35.59 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Perennial grasses were the least <br />dominant plant life form and contributed a total of 4.40 percent of the total cover and 16.54 <br />percent of the total relative cover on this site. <br />Carpet Phlox was the dominant plant species growing on this site, contributing a total of 6.47 <br />percent of the total cover and 24.31 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Wyoming Big <br />Sagebrush, Douglas Rabbitbrush, and Rubber Rabbitbrush, were the other dominant plants on <br />W <br />