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Within Reclamation Area 31, Calamor'ilfa longifolia was dominant, with contributions of <br />11.60 percent total and 46.20 percent relative cover this growing season. Bronws <br />tectorum contributed 5.80 percent total cover and 18.35 percent relative cover. Three <br />additional species encountered during cover sampling contributed three or more percent <br />relative cover including; Oryzopsis hymenoides providing 1.80 and 9.49 percent total and <br />relative cover, respectively, Agropyron smithii with 2.00 percent total cover (8.86% <br />relative cover), and Schizachyrium scopariuln contributing 1.80 percent total and 6.96 <br />percent relative cover. <br />Vegetative litter (prior years growth and other biologic organic material) comprised 42.20 <br />percent ground cover overall within Reclamation Area 31 this season. Bare soil <br />accounted for 32.00 percent of the ground cover. No rock or cryptogams were <br />encountered during the cover sampling this year. <br />3.4.2 Herbaceous Production <br />Total herbaceous production within Reclamation Area 31 was 77.5 g /m (691 lb /ac) this <br />year. Perennial grasses accounted for 92.4 percent of production, annual grasses <br />contributed 4.5 percent, perennial fortis provided 2.5 percent, and biennial forbs <br />contributed 0.6 percent of production this season. <br />3.4.3 Species Composition <br />Cover sampling identified two lifeforms and thirteen species within Reclamation Area 31. <br />The lifeforms included eight species of perennial grass, two annual grass species, two <br />perennial forbs, and one annual forb. Of the species encountered in Reclamation Area 31, <br />nine were native and four were introduced. Perennial species outnumbered annual <br />species by ten to three. Both warm and cool season species contributed to the seasonality <br />of the area. Warm season graminoids outnumbered cool season graminoids by six to <br />four. Two cool season forb species and one warm season forb were encountered. <br />Reclamation Area 31 had five species contributing greater than three percent relative <br />cover this year. The species contributing greater than three percent relative cover included <br />four perennial grasses and one annual grass. These species included Calannnvilfa <br />longifolia (46.20 %), Bromus tectorum (18.35%), Oryzopsis hymenoides (9.49% relative <br />cover), Agropyron smithii (8.86 %), and Schizachyrium scoparium (6.96 %). <br />3.4 COMPARISON OF RECLAMATION AREAS WITH FINAL RE- <br />VEGETATION SUCCESS CRITERIA <br />Monitoring of revegetated areas at reclaimed coal mines allows for the identification of <br />vegetation community development trends during the extended liability period. This <br />evaluation also assists in decisions regarding yearly grazing, husbandry practices, <br />interseeding, fertilizing, and weed management. Comparison of the reclaimed area <br />values for vegetation cover, herbaceous production, and species composition with the <br />final revegetation success criteria indicates whether revegetation has been successful, or <br />Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 14 <br />2012 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />