2013-02-27_REPORT - C1981028 (12)

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3.2.3 Species Composition Cover sampling identified three lifeforms and nine species within Reclamation Area 29 this season. The lifeforms included six species of perennial grass, one annual grass species, one succulent, and one woody plant. Of the species encountered in Reclamation Area 29, eight were native and one was introduced. Perennial species outnumbered annual species by eight to one. Both warm and cool season species contributed to the seasonality of the area. Warm season graminoids outnumbered cool season graminoids by four to three. Reclamation Area 29 had four species contributing greater than three percent relative cover this year. The species contributing greater than three percent relative cover included four perennial grasses; Calamovilfa longifolia (50.56 %), Bouteloua gracilis (28.89 %), Bouteloua curtipendula (8.33 %), and Andropogon hallii (4.44 %). 3.3 QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION: RECLAMATION AREA 30 Reclamation Area 30 encompasses 9.68 acres of reclamation in one parcel within the Keenesburg Mine permit area. Reclamation Area 30 was formerly part of the B Pit mining area and was reclaimed to a gently east - sloping landform blending into the native undisturbed area to the west and the reclaimed mining and operational areas to the east. Final revegetation seeding with the permanent seed mix took place in November 2006. Specific vegetation information for Reclamation Area 30 is contained in Tables 1, 4, and 6. 3.3.1 Vegetation Cover Total mean vegetation cover of Reclamation Area 30 was 28.80 percent. Graminoids provided all the vegetation cover this season. The most frequently encountered species was Calamovilfa longifolia, present in all transects. Andropogon hal/ii, Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), an annual introduced grass, and Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian ricegrass), a cool season native grass, were present in 80 percent of transects. Bouteloua curtipendula was present in 60 percent of transects. Five remaining species were encountered in four or fewer transects. Within Reclamation Area 30, the warm season native grass Calamovilfa longifolia was dominant, with contributions of 12.00 percent total and 39.52 percent relative cover this growing season. Six additional species sampled contributed three or more percent relative cover including; the cool season native grass Oryzopsis hymenoides with 5.20 percent total (18.56% relative cover), Andropogon hal/ii contributing 2.80 percent total and 13.17 percent relative cover, Bronius tectorum with 2.80 percent total cover and 8.38 percent relative cover, Bouteloua curtipendula providing 2.00 percent total and 7.19 percent relative cover, Agropyron smithii (western wheatgrass), another cool season native, with 1.40 percent total cover (4.19% relative cover), and Bouteloua gracilis with 1.00 percent total cover and 3.59 percent relative cover. Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 12 2012 Revegetation Monitoring Report