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4 f . <br /> Reference Area No.3(along reclaimed beltline flat) <br /> No treatment effect was evident here,either from visual appearance or from the data. This,site had been <br /> reclaimed in the fall of 1997,and so last year was the first growing season. There was a marked increase in <br /> noxious plant cover between 1998 and 1999;apparently due to growth of individual plants(which were <br /> seedlings in 1998)rather than an increase in noxious plant density. <br /> Reference Area No.4(beltline outslope adjacent to Reference Area No. 3) <br /> In marked contrast to Reference Area No.3,the effect of spraying here was dramatically apparent. The <br /> 1998 report had commented on the"very high cover and density of noxious species,including ox-eye <br /> daisy,plumeless thistle,Canada thistle,and musk thistle." There were essentially no live noxious species <br /> present on this site in 1999,with a reduction in noxious species cover from 41%(four species)in 1998 to <br /> 1%(one species)in 1999. <br /> Summary <br /> Effectiveness of the first year spraying was spotty,both within the sampled reference sites and adjacent <br /> reclaimed areas. This variability may be in part due to the varying degrees of herbicide resistance among <br /> target species(e.g. Canada thistle more resistant than plumeless thistle),but it may also be due in part to <br /> incomplete herbicide coverage within the affected areas. It is apparent that one or more additional years of <br /> treatment will be required to successfully control the infestations both at the Sutey Pile and along the <br /> beltline. <br /> cc: Randy Pair,OSM <br /> Sandy Brown <br /> Byron Walker <br /> Larry Routten <br />